St Michael’s Church of England Primary School, Bolton have taken part in the KS1 Archbishops’ Young Leaders Award for the past six years. Most recently, their Year 1 young leaders chose to focus their community action on supporting refugees in their area.

As part of the Award pupils explore the leadership quality of kindness. This learning inspired the pupils to share kindness throughout their school community, helping each other and staff; paying compliments; encouraging their friends; giving notes of kindness and sharing pictures.

They went on to link this learning with activities in school for Refugee Week which allowed them to grow understanding and empathy for others and inspired their community action project.

The Year 1s were full of compassion for people seeking sanctuary and they wanted to help them so they decided to raise money for the local charity BRASS (Befriending Refugees and Asylum Seekers). They decided to pot plants (linking learning to their science learning) and sell them in school. They then invited the Executive Director of the charity into school to present him with the cheque.

The young leaders also contributed to a school book of welcome creating a class poem entitled ‘We will welcome you’.

Their teacher said, “Over the last 6 years, the children from St Michael's CEP have thoroughly enjoyed working towards the Archbishops’ Young Leaders Award. Following the planning ideas and using the resources has enabled so many children to gain the skills necessary to become successful leaders. We work towards this award in Year One and see our pupils continue on their leadership journey throughout their primary education. It is wonderful to see the skills they learn through the Young Leaders Award being used throughout the wider curriculum and beyond. The children have gained life long skills and made so many memories whilst completing the award.”

Find out more about the KS1 Archbishops’ Young Leaders Award here: abyyt.com/keystage1

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