Somersfield Academy students paused their routines last Friday to consider how peace through the choices they make in the classrooms and the wider community can impact their lives.

It came as the Devonshire-based school marked International Day of Peace at an annual ceremony.

The event brought together students and staff at the school’s Peace Pole to share a moment of reflection on the importance of peace and the roles they play in creating a more peaceful community.

The event also marked the introduction of Somersfield’s student leadership council for the 2026-27 academic year.

Sydney Troake, the council’s president and Yemaya Iris, the body’s chairwoman, led the event in which students were encouraged to consider peace as a global ideal as well as something practised through their everyday choices.

Ms Troake challenged the community to rethink the idea of peace as something created only by governments or world leaders.

She spoke about the strength it takes to resolve conflict through empathy and forgiveness, reminding students that “anyone can add to a conflict, but it takes strength to stop one”.

Ms Troake said: “When we think about peace, we often think about something bigger than ourselves.

“Something that other people create, like presidents, organisations and activists.

“But peace can also be small. It can be something we all contribute to, and something we all have a responsibility to protect.”

Ms Iris reflected on the history of the International Day of Peace, which was first observed in 1982.

She also spoke on the global theme for this year, “Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day.”

Ms Iris said: “Peace is an old promise, but every day we can wake up and make it a new initiative.

“Peace isn’t just forged in diplomatic conference rooms; it’s shaped by all of us, every single day.

“No matter how old the promise of peace is, it is still something we must fight for.”

The school said peace education is woven throughout its continuum of Montessori and International Baccalaureate programmes.

It said Maria Montessori, the famed Italian educators, recognised the important role education plays in building peace.

Somersfield said the IB programme places intercultural understanding, respect and responsible action at the heart of its educational philosophy.

“These principles align closely with Somersfield’s mission to inspire socially conscious, independent thinkers,” the school said.

Students observed a minute of silence in solidarity with those affected by conflict globally and reaffirmed a message shared throughout the morning event that read “peace starts with us”.