Students at Norton Hill have a long tradition of supporting the United Nations International Day of Peace, which takes place on 21st September each year. Once again, pupils have joined forces to mark the day by creating hundreds of small 'Windmills for Peace' which, when displayed at the front of the school, provide a powerful show of support for the day to the wider community.

International Day of Peace, often referred to as 'Peace One Day' in the UK, has been celebrated worldwide since 1982. It is a chance for communities to come together and create practical acts of peace on a shared date. The idea behind the windmills, which have been taken up by schools in every corner of the globe, is that pupils write messages or draw pictures in support of peace and that these messages blow away in the wind and join together to form a worldwide show of support.

This is the fifth year that students at Norton Hill have shown their support by making the windmills. Tom Hockaday, International Coordinator at the school, said: "We are so proud of our students for wanting to support International Day of Peace. The scale of support has grown hugely over the years to the stage where the vast majority of the student body now choose to make a windmill and join the global movement."

Headteacher, Alun Williams, added: "Seeing pupils show a genuine interest in supporting such a worthwhile cause is testament to the traditional moral values promoted by our curriculum of which we are rightly proud. It was also really positive to see students from Midsomer Norton Sixth Form play their part in encouraging pupils to participate."

The Midsomer Norton Sixth Form covers both Norton Hill and Somervale Schools. A group of five sixth formers planned assemblies for all students at the school. Speakers, Lantz White, Charlotte Hayward and Amber Manley, explained to students the importance of showing continued support for International Day of Peace. They were then joined on stage by musicians, Sam Evans and Andy Slade, who gave a stunning performance of Sam's own song 'Tomorrow Isn't Promised'.

International Day of Peace is one of a whole programme of events and activities at the school where students are encouraged to think beyond their immediate surroundings. Norton Hill is one of very few schools nationally to have received the British Council's International School Award on three occasions.