STUDENTS at All Saints' School in York were presented with awards after training to be "active listeners".

Youngsters in Year Nine and 13 gained the qualifications after a three-day training programme at the school.

The qualification means the youngsters are able to listen to problems of other pupils.

Chris Nichols, the inclusion officer at All Saints' School, said: "They are not offering advice, they are there allowing the students with issues, which could be abuse at home or problems with homework, to talk about them.

"It has been proven that if you can come up with your own solutions it is better than suggested ones."

Updated: 08:42 Wednesday, July 30, 2003