This week, we welcomed Staffordshire Police to our academy for a powerful, immersive experience as part of their "Ditch the Blade" campaign.

Our pupils used Virtual Reality (VR) headsets to navigate difficult, real-life scenarios involving peer pressure and knife crime. The simulation places students in a tense environment where they must choose whether or not to carry a blade.

Real Choices, Real Consequences

The impact on our students was immediate. Max, one of our participants, described the experience as incredibly lifelike. He said: "The people kept coming up to me and there was going to be a fight." By choosing not to carry a knife, Max’s simulation ended with him being safely let go by the police.

In contrast, Isabelle experienced how quickly things can go wrong. After following a group due to peer pressure, her simulation ended in an arrest. "I felt nervous not to," she shared, highlighting how difficult these social situations can be. Both students walked away with a firm "no" when asked if they would ever carry a knife in reality.

Education for a Safer Future

PCSO Michelle Chadwick, who led the sessions, emphasised that while youth knife crime remains low, affecting only about 1% of young people, education is vital. "It’s about making them understand there are consequences and bigger impacts than they perhaps realise," she said.