A team of north Norfolk pupils who help first year youngsters find their feet at their new school have won a national award.

Rupert Frost, 11, Gaby Ede, Alissa Mardle and George Hinson, all 10, from Colby Primary School, near Cromer, will win a Diana Award tomorrow for the Colby Buddies group. The group includes most of the Amethyst class – 26 year six pupils – and members support five-year-olds who start at the school through a buddy system as well as looking out for other younger pupils.

Rupert's father Gavin Frost, deputy headteacher at the school, said: 'The Colby Buddies is something that a lot of schools do but the way we run it is particularly lovely. It has been embedded here for a long time. The members provide brotherly and sisterly care for the younger pupils.

'Everyone in year six has a job title in the school. We have a massive ethos of responsibility and we want children to feel they have a genuine role in the running of the school. They have got ownership of the school. We cannot believe we have won the award. We are very proud and so are the children.'

The Colby Buddies lead creative activities including the weekly stay and play scheme for pre-school children, which features tasks including colouring and cutting and sticking. They can also be teaching assistants in younger classes.

Colby school currently has 142 children and half of the year six pupils are involved in the stay and play sessions.

Rupert, Gaby, Alissa and George will pick up the Diana Anti-Bullying Champion award at the Barclays building in Canary Wharf.

They will be among 70 other young people from across Britain receiving the six different accolades.

The Diana Award was set up in 1999 as a legacy to the late Diana, Princess of Wales. Prime Minister David Cameron is a patron of the charity. The Colby Buddies was nominated by a parent whose child attends the stay and play group.

Do you have an inspirational school story? Email sophie.wyllie@archant.co.uk