Pupils got a huge surprise when their 'outstanding' work was praised in front of an audience of more than 12,000 people.

"One of the best days of my life" is how one student at Symondsbury Primary School, near Bridport, described a trip to Wembley for a global citizenship event.

The school's Year 6 pupils got more than they bargained for when they headed to London to participate in 'We Day', an international education event that celebrates young people who lead local and global change.

Now in its 11th year, We Day was simultaneously hosted in 11 different cities in three different countries, with more than 180,000 young people in attendance. Tickets cannot be bought outright - schools need to demonstrate their citizenship credentials in order to earn a place at the event and Symondsbury Primary School's '100 Ways to Change the World' campaign won them plaudits from organisers.

But the children weren't prepared for the announcement live, on stage and in front of the 12,000-strong audience, that Symondsbury School was being awarded a special £1000 grant to support its community and change-making work, thanks to the outstanding work already being done by the school.

Headteacher Emma Roberts said: "When we got a shout out from the stage of Wembley, and we heard about the £1,000 grant, we were absolutely overwhelmed. To think that our little village school can be held up as an example of excellence in the field of global citizenship, in front of thousands of young people and teachers, is just amazing. It is totally down to the way that Symondsbury's pupils have embraced the idea of 100 ways to change the world so wholeheartedly and so pragmatically. Pupils from reception class upwards come to me with their ideas of how to help others and create positive change. I don't have to push them, they come forward themselves and make it their own. "

The major event included a host of music acts and motivational speakers.

Pupil Rosa said: "Going to We Day was one of the best days of my life. When we arrived at Wembley I was amazed at how big it was. My heart was racing with excitement. One of the speakers talked about how he and his teacher had overcome his speech impediment and how he now helped others. When he left the stage I felt goose bumps tingling on my arm and my eyes started to well-up. All I could see was the blurry stage. Attending We Day was an amazing opportunity. It was very inspiring and I will never forget it. I wish I could do it all over again."