Croydon students use creativity to promote safe relationships

Setting boundaries and navigating the internet safely were the key themes for students at a Croydon school who had their work professionally printed to spread their message.

The group at Chestnut Park Primary School have been taking part in the RE:SET Campaign which is designed to give young people the tools, language and confidence to recognise what healthy relationships look like,  and what to do if something doesn’t feel right.

Working with the charity Tender, the school, a member of GLF Schools Multi Academy Trust, was offered the chance to take part in a student-led campaign which involved them learning about red flags in relationships and understanding boundaries and consent.


“The campaign work helped consolidate that learning, and their poems and posters show how much they took in. One group, for instance, wrote a poem about personal boundaries with the line “no means no” which became a message they repeated proudly,” said Suzanna Jones, Assistant Headteacher.

The RE:SET Campaign, run by Tender,  is designed to show young people that their voice matters and that speaking out is brave. It offers an online toolkit for schools to use and Tender works in both primary and secondary schools.

“We hope that these pieces spark conversation and reflection. The posters and poems are bold and honest - students talk openly about saying no, setting boundaries and staying safe online. We want other children to read them and feel empowered to speak up,” added Mrs Jones.

“We want adults to be reminded how much children absorb and notice, and how important it is to listen. Most of all, we want this campaign to act as a reminder that relationships of any kind should always feel safe and respectful.”

The students worked in groups to pool ideas and include messages that were relatable to their peers and the themes related to boundaries, online safety and speaking out with many of them talking about rights over their body.

“They are delighted it’s being printed. It’s a huge moment of pride for them to see their creative work being treated so professionally. It sends the message that what they have created is valuable and worthy of being shared widely,” said Mrs Jones.

“But the most powerful lesson was that students can lead meaningful conversations about serious topics, and they do have the maturity and compassion to shape how we think and talk about our relationships.”

Tender is a national charity which uses drama and the arts to educate children and adults about healthy relationships. Its co-patrons are Academy Award-winning actress Olivia Colman and her husband Ed Sinclair.