STARTING school in Darwen next term could be a lot less daunting for some pupils thanks to an award-winning scheme.

Students at Darwen Vale High School, Bolton Road, came up with a new way of welcoming students into secondary education as part of a BT education award scheme.

And the idea to use well wishing e-mails and a mentor scheme was enough to scoop a £5,000 cash boost for their school.

The 'e-mail buddies and peer mentoring' project gives older pupils at secondary schools the chance to offer advice about life in secondary schools to children in two feeder primary schools .

And they can help them take part in joint community challenges outside of school.

Year eight students will receive training in peer mentoring, so that they can offer one on one support to primary school pupils.

The school will receive the award in stages to enable them to buy IT equipment for the project.

Richard Hamer, BT education programme co-ordinator, said the award scheme was a way of opening up "opportunities" for UK schools to share ideas on school life.

He said: "We are delighted to be able to help a number of schools each term and wish Darwen Vale the best of luck as they begin their project The on-line awards programme broadens the scope of current school projects."

Information about the awards at: www.bt.com/education