Children at Christ Church School in Cheltenham have been learning what it takes to be a great leader, completing the Archbishop of York’s Young Leader Award (AYLA).
The qualities of kindness, perseverance, teamwork and community action were all explored in detail by children in key stage 1 (ages 5 to 7), in a series of tasks designed to help them appreciate that small steps equal big changes.
Children were sent on secret random acts of kindness missions, considering whether kindness is still important when no one is watching.
They then used their leadership qualities to teach a skill to a younger child at break and lunch, learning that leaders don’t give up.
After interviewing a school leader about teamwork, children planned a litterpick in the school grounds and invited Eco Council to come and help them plant flowers and vegetables to improve the school environment.
Taking a walk around the community, the children were inspired to contact Sandfields care home and visit the people living there.
The children brought their Young Leader Passports to show their journeys and shared sewing projects and learning across the year. The children designed and sewed cushions to gift to the residents for their cafe area and will present them at a special celebration service.
Jill Proctor, the year 2 teacher and RE Lead for the school said, “The children were amazing, brave and so confident speaking to the elderly residents. It is lovely how all their skills build to this end goal and they can apply everything they have learned to make a difference to others.
“The impact of this project has been invaluable. They really feel they cheered up their adopted grandparents whose real grandchildren often live too far away to visit. They know they brightened up the care home with their presence and the feedback from the residents and care workers was so positive – they can’t wait for the children to return again.
“I’d like to thank Sally and Chris at Sandfields who helped make this happen at short notice so we could complete the award in time to receive our certificates. We hope to develop this project into other areas for example, working in their garden or completing craft activities with the residents…Small steps really do make big changes!”
“If you have not used this award with your schools before, I thoroughly recommend signing up as the programme is fantastic! You receive training at the start, it is so well organised, easy to use online and makes such an impact with your pupils across the year.”
Sign up here for KS1 and KS2 awards starting this September →
News Hub
