KS2 Case Study
Lime Tree Primary, Surbiton, is a sustainable school at the centre of an inclusive community, where all members are reflective, life-long learners who have a healthy body, healthy brain and healthy heart. As every other school in the country the challenge is always to balance the delivery of the national curriculum across all subjects whilst juggling budgets.
Lime Tree was looking for an engaging, innovative way to bring the Citizenship part of the National Curriculum into the classroom and has worked closely with Together Equal since 2019 to develop a programme that works.
Intended Outcomes
The senior leadership team wanted the year 6 pupils to improve in the following areas:
Improving peer relationships and the ability to resolve conflict and develop a greater understanding of empathy
To address the harmful stereotypes of gender within the school which were negatively impacting self confidence, self esteem and peer-to-peer relationships across the board
For children to understand the impact their behaviour has on others
To create a greater understanding of their role within society as “future citizens” and the responsibility they have for their own views and behaviour
To improve their own self worth and identity in support of the school strap line “healthy body, brain and heart”
Our solution is a 10 week programme working with Year 6 and focusing on the intended Citizenship outcomes in line with Together Equals own mission statement of “changing the world one conversation at a time.”
Children explore the areas highlighted as intended outcomes through the use of the conversation cards, group discussion, story telling, games, drama and debates. Students are encouraged to explore issues around equality, fairness and mental health without fear of judgement, with activities remaining child-led and discussions supported by the session leader.
During games, children are exposed to experiences of losing, unfairness and competition in a constructive way, facilitated by our session leader. The games encourage a variety of social skills, such as listening, turn-taking, risk, empathy and teamwork.
The sessions focusing on mental health and self-worth allow children to explore their more difficult thoughts and feelings in a safe space, with the support of staff and peers. This approach allows for processing and acceptance of these feelings free from shame and judgement. In order to promote positive mental health, these sessions create a safe space for children to accept negative feelings and challenge some of these to promote a more positive practice of self-talk.
The results
83% reported feeling confident in themselves, their identity and their strengths and the end of the 10-week intervention.
70% felt able to challenge negative thoughts
76% of pupils felt they had become more respectful of others opinions since taking part in the workshops
This programme is now a regular part of the Y6 curriculum. Students have embraced the whole curriculum, actively participating in debates and activities. While CPD was not an objective, teachers also benefited, the involvement of an independent third party helped them to create a strong dialogue around key themes with their students and are able to continue the work started by Together Equal.
Sue Hawker, Lime Tree School Head Teacher said of the programme:
“We were really pleased with the outcomes from the School Together Equal Programme, it is something we are committed to running each year with our Y6 cohort as it really has helped our students develop their peer to peer relationships as well as helping them build a better understanding of where they fit into this ever changing world”
Verbatims
Statements taken from Year 6 cohort at the end of the ten weeks:
“That’s it ok to feel like I’m rubbish sometimes and that it won’t always feel that way”
“That I need to listen to other people more”
“That even if I’m finding things hard, I’m not alone, other people haven’t always got it so easy either”
“I think I will try to be nicer to other people, I don’t want people to think they are stupid because I’ve called them a name when I was angry”
“I didn’t realise that stuff about boys thinking they can’t cry, I don’t think people were like that now.”
Further stats:
53% felt more aware of how their actions and words can impact others
46% felt that the workshops had helped them to work with their classmates better.
92% of children had a clear understanding of the meaning of Equality, Fairness and Opinions.
75% felt more knowledgeable in identifying unhelpful stereotypes about boys following the workshops
56% felt more knowledgeable in identifying unhelpful stereotypes about girls following the workshops
63% felt more confident challenging unhelpful stereotypes after the workshops.
50% of pupils felt the workshops helped them to be more aware of their feelings and emotions better
“I am sitting currently reading the final drafts of reports and so many of our Year 6s mention Sarah and Together Equal as one of their favourite memories! Almost all of them!”
SUPPORT US
Every corporate workshop we run pays for 10 hours of work in a local school. Find out more at togetherequal.com/contact-us
