Character education is developed in a number of ways across our well deigned curriculum and it is in fact at the heart of our culture and ethos and general ‘life’ at Kew Woods Primary School.
Pupils believe strongly that they have a voice, and their opinions will be listened to and responded to. They feel part of our school community and therefore want to make a positive contribution to the life of the school. Through a focus in RSE lessons on developing self-awareness and interpersonal skills pupils behave with integrity and are increasingly more mature, sensible, and supportive to each other. Our assemblies focus on safeguarding and how to keep ourselves safe. The assembly timetable is planned out effectively to continue to reinforce safeguarding messages to pupils.
We continue to develop pupils who are resilient, self-aware, have self-confidence and contribute positively to their community. We actively celebrate diversity, highlighting our wide community through assemblies, displays and specific focused activities. We work with outside providers such as ‘Go Outside’ to build resilience, teamwork and character. This underpins the whole school approach to promoting resilience through praising efforts and aiming to challenge pupils of all ability levels.
Our school ethos, Life Learning lessons and opportunities in the wider curriculum all contribute to the development of pupils’ character in our school. We promote a positive ‘can-do’ attitude where all talents and achievements are recognised and celebrated. Year 5 complete mental resilience sessions in Spring term and parents are offered virtual workshops on how they can support their child. Well Being Ambassadors are working on ways they can promote wellbeing to their peers by mindful Monday, tranquil Tuesday, wellbeing Wednesday, thoughtful Thursday and feel good Friday. In summer term all classes in Key stage 2 will be supported by professionals from the #iwill Youth Social Action programme on a 6-week classroom-based programme. The #iwill Youth Social Action programme focusses on empowering the young people we work with to identify an issue that they care most passionately about, and then design and run a social action project of their own.
Research suggests that there are enabling character traits which can improve educational attainment, engagement with school and attendance. A literature review for the Education Endowment Foundation and Cabinet Office found that:
- High self-efficacy, or self-belief, is associated with better performance, more persistence and greater interest in work;
- Highly motivated children (linked to tenacity) driven internally and not by extrinsic rewards show greater levels of persistence and achievement;
- Good self-control (or self-regulation, the ability to delay gratification) is associated with greater attainment levels; and
- Having good coping skills (part of being able to bounce back) is associated with greater well-being.
At Kew Woods Primary we have a number of opportunities for pupils to put themselves forward for a young leader role and have the opportunity to speak on behalf of their peers in decisions the school staff are making. Our young leader opportunities are: School Council, Eco Council, Digital Leaders, Reading Ambassadors, Anti-Bullying Ambassadors, Wellbeing Ambassadors, Sports Leaders, Sport Captains, House Captains and Art Leaders.
Young Leaders at Kew
Art Leaders
Our Art Leaders share their enthusiasm for the Arts with their peers and aim to inspire them through the projects, performances and activities that they are involved with.
They meet regularly with the Art Leader to:
- Plan new learning opportunities, activities and projects.
- Discuss how they can support and encourage others to join in with Arts opportunities and get creative.
- Reflect on previous projects and discuss ideas.
Reading Ambassadors at Kew Woods
The Reading Ambassadors at Kew Woods Primary School are selected first and foremost for their love of reading! Our Reading Ambassadors carry out an important role as they encourage others in their class and across the school to read, promoting reading for pleasure for all pupils.
These ambassadors, who are not only avid readers, are also responsible for:
- Organising whole school reading events such as: Book Fairs, Book Swaps and World Book Day celebrations
- Choosing new books; reading and reviewing them before they go into class libraries so they can confidently recommend books to others.
- Contacting authors and organising author visits and Zooms for their class to enjoy.
- Reading with their younger reading buddies
- Listening to their classmates thoughts about how to further develop a love of reading across the school and share these with the other ambassadors during Reading Ambassador meetings.
- Ensure all classrooms have an engaging, organised and stimulating reading area
- Create ‘reading areas’ across the school including the outside areas.
- Ensure the outdoor library is looked after each lunchtime.
We are very proud of our Reading Ambassadors, their passion for reading and their commitment to sharing their love of literature throughout the school.
Play Leaders
At Kew Woods we encourage children to develop as individuals. One of the ways we try to encourage this is a ‘Play Leading Scheme’.
The scheme promotes children’s well-being, social skills and team work. It also encourages the children in year 5 and 6 to develop leadership skills. The leaders organise games for the younger children, it promotes the children’s organisation, communication and responsibility skills and most importantly they all have fun!
Our play leaders volunteer their time to support the younger pupils at play times to establish a happy play time for all children. They receive training on how to deliver different games at lunchtimes. As well as delivering traditional playground games, the children have lots of play equipment too.
The scheme also aims to increase the amount of physical activity undertaken during playtime/lunchtime to promote the physical and mental wellbeing of children in our school.
Sports Ambassadors
The Bronze Sports Ambassadors at Kew Woods are selected for their love of sport and exercise! Our Sports Ambassadors carry out an important role to help, support and encourage others to enjoy PE and school sport.
The Sports Ambassadors attend a training event at a local high school which is designed to build the leadership skills of young people and as a result they are empowered to take on the following roles:
- Be the pupil voice for PE and school sport in our school community.
- Attend meetings as part of the school sports council to discuss how we can improve participation and healthy lifestyles at Kew Woods.
- Promote the positive values of sport and physical activity in school.
- Help Mrs McGlincy or Mr Thompson to organise competitions within school
- Work alongside Mrs McGlincy and other class teachers to organise events such as Sport’s Day and sport relief days.
- Be a role model and champion for PE and school sport, encouraging fairness and respect around our school.
- Increase participation opportunities and healthy lifestyles for everyone.
They are a very valuable asset to our school and we are very proud of them.
Anti-Bullying Ambassadors
The Anti-Bullying Ambassadors began their journey by participating in The Diana Award Anti-Bullying Training Programme.
They believe that bullying behaviour is not acceptable and should not be part of everyday school life. They act as role models to help promote kindness, friendship and tolerance.
They meet regularly with the Anti-Bullying lead to:
- Discuss and develop their thoughts and observations
- Plan new activities and events that promote the Anti-Bullying message such as Smile Day, Friendship Friday and assemblies
- They have a key role in developing and updating the Anti-Bullying School Policy (available here)
Eco School Council
Eco School council have been working with the Windmills foundation and have started to develop a partnership with Ivy Gate Lodge Care Home in Southport. To start the project pupils met with a representative of each organisation to learn more about the project. Pupils then undertook and art project in conjunction with our Art Leaders to make paper craft flowers which we arranged into bouquets which were given to each resident in the care home, alongside hand made Christmas cards. We are excited that our next project will be to plant seeds and grow plants which we will take in person to meet residents and undertake a joint gardening project with them.
The Eco Council have also been leading on a project to support Southport Foodbank with monthly collections planned and organised in school. Last year our council collected over 500Kg of food, an amazing total we hope to beat this year.
School Council
Each year all pupils are invited to prepare a short speech about why they would like to represent their class on the school council. An election is then held and two pupils are selected by their peers to join the whole school council. This year the council decided their first project would be to focus on improving pupil’s enjoyment and wellbeing at break and lunchtimes in school. After discussions with their classes they decided that each class would like a bag of playground equipment to take out and utilise at these times. The council compiled a list of items they would like and prepared a short presentation which they made to our Deputy Headteacher. Due to the high standard of the pupils’ work each class was rewarded with equipment that they asked for. It was a lovely moment for the council representatives to take their new equipment back to class and demonstrate that their voice had been heard. Pupil’s enjoyment of break and lunchtimes has greatly increased.
In addition to this the School Council is part of the Southport Learning Partnership and have met with the councils of these partner schools. Before attending, our council held a meeting and decided that we would like to put forward Cancer Research as the partnerships chosen charity for the year. The council were delighted that it was chosen to be the official charity and we are busy planning special events in school to raise money for this cause.
Wellbeing Ambassadors
The Well Being Ambassadors at Kew Wood Primary School have a responsibility for leading and promoting well-being throughout school, they drive the message
forward and release the stigma around talking about challenging feelings and encourage people to talk. Our Wellbeing Ambassadors meet regularly to discuss ideas moving forward and provide feedback on what’s working well and highlight any gaps in whole-school approaches to wellbeing. They also work together to plan ideas for Mental Well Being week so that looking after your mind is promoted throughout the school.
What else do our well-being ambassadors do?
-Continually raise awareness of mindfulness activities taking place
-Act as a positive role models, offering support and encouragement to others
-Continually support their Peers
-Inspire others to access the benefits of mindfulness
-Work with the well-being ambassador team to ensure the voice of young people is heard
-Signposting pupils to access support in our school
-Having regular contact with a designated member of staff responsible for overseeing their wellbeing
