Cromwell Community College has become the first school in Cambridgeshire to receive a gold award for its work in supporting students who are young carers.

The Chatteris school has been praised by the Young Carers in Schools Programme, which helps primary and secondary schools improve outcomes for young carers and celebrates good practice through the Young Carers in Schools Award.

Cromwell Community College’ regularly hosts homework clubs and drop-in centres for students they have identified as young carers.

Principal, Jane Horn, said: “To be recognised as a College which supports young carers as well as we do is a fantastic achievement.

“I am humbled by their capacity to care and support others, often at the expense of their own well-being.

“We recognise the challenges, which these amazing young people face on daily basis and this process has made us reflect on what we can do to support them in anyway.

“I am proud to work with such dedicated colleagues who have worked tirelessly to ensure that we do our utmost to meet the needs of young carers and I am delighted to receive this award.

“Raising awareness of the issues which these young people face can only serve to support them further.”

Gail Scott-Spicer, chief executive of Carers Trust, says: “Schools play a vital role in a young carer’s life, but many care for relatives without their teachers even knowing what they do.

“On average young carers will miss half a day of school each fortnight as a result of their caring role, so the steps schools take to identify and support them can have a huge impact on their learning, wellbeing and life chances.”