Last week, pupils across the school took part in activities to mark Anti-Bullying Week and this year’s theme ‘Choose Respect’.
For children in the Pre-Prep, ‘Harmony Week’ offered a chance to celebrate the power of kindness and positive behaviour through assemblies, songs, books, visiting speakers and more. Year 1 were visited by a parent who is a neuroscientist and who delivered an engaging session on the benefits of kindness for our brain health and overall performance. Through modelling experiments and showing brain scans, neuroscientists have found that when you are kind, both the other person’s brain and your brain have happy chemicals in them. This means you can both feel better, learn more, be stronger, and have more fun!
Hannah Hoser, Head of Year 1 and PSHEE lead, said: “The children were captivated, actively participating and asking fantastic questions during the Q&A. It was a joy to see them so engaged and eager to learn about how simple acts of kindness can make a big difference in our lives and the lives of others.”
Across the week, the Pre-Prep put this research into action by recording acts of kindness to each other, achieving over 580 good deeds by the end of Friday. Some particularly memorable acts included children inviting new peers to join their games, offering brave apologies, and assisting classmates with a tricky classroom area challenge.
In the Junior School, PSHEE lessons looked at Unkindness vs Bullying, reminding children how to get support for both. Whole school assemblies were led by our ‘Agents for Change’ pupils; a group of student ambassadors who are known to the other children in the school and who promote safe and kind behaviours. Each year group took part in an external workshop run by Bigfoot Arts Education. The theme was ‘What Would You Do?’ and focused on ‘understanding how we maintain positive relationships and the importance of embracing each other’s differences’.
Ffion May, Junior School PSHEE Coordinator, said: “The children have engaged thoughtfully in conversations about how we can all contribute to a positive and inclusive environment. These discussions not only reflect our ongoing commitment to these values but also reinforce the culture we work to nurture year-round—where every student feels safe, valued, and supported.”
In the Senior School, members of the Anti-Bullying Committee (ABC) led whole school assemblies, with a focus on community, kindness, friendship and respect. The ABC was formed last year after pupils volunteered to receive some anti-bullying training and were keen to work together as a committee to support the school community and create a pupil-friendly version of the Anti-Bullying policy.
Y11 pupil Caterina attended a Diana Award workshop and Equally Safe training course. She reflected afterwards, “It taught me how it is key that we tackle these problems at a young age as it really does impact people on a long term, mentally and physically.”
She continues, “We all, as a team, have definitely made changes already to help the school become a safer and more positive environment. We worked alongside the senior team and governors to come up with ways in tackling key issues revolving around bullying.” Other members of the committee have produced and delivered scenarios to the whole senior school staff INSET this term, discussing their views on ways to manage gossip and unkind behaviour.
Y11 pupil Maya, who helped to deliver the assemblies, explained how they “aimed to spread positive values and bring about a sense of community at our school.”
Verity Smith, Acting Deputy Head Pastoral, commented “The pupils have been outstanding in their commitment to bringing a young person’s perspective to our thinking. Their assemblies on friendship were moving and creative – and made a great impression on each year group from Y7 to Y13.”
