ACfE case studies

Report On Anti-Sectarian Good Practice At Earnhill Primary School And Sacred Heart Primary School, Inverclyde

Winners of the 2007 Scottish Education One Scotland – Anti-Sectarianism Award

CONTEXT

Earnhill and Sacred Heart primary schools are situated in the Larkfield area of Greenock. Earnhill Primary is a non-denominational school and Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic school. The schools are very close together and have collaborated in a number of events where pupils, parents and staff have been invited to participate in services, shows and sporting activities in the other school.

Sacred Heart Primary School accommodates approximately 113 pupils with a staffing complement of 8 FTE; its free school meal entitlement is considerably higher than the Inverclyde and national averages.

Earnhill Primary accommodates approximately 158 pupils with a staffing complement of 10 FTE; its free school meal entitlement is also considerably higher than the Inverclyde and national averages.

TAKING AN ANTI-SECTARIAN INITIATIVE

The schools decided to build on this liaison by focusing on a joint venture which would involve pupils, staff and parents in sharing ideas and experiences. In supporting the Scottish Government’s action against sectarianism, the schools identified this initiative as providing an ideal opportunity to further unite the schools in a worthwhile goal which would also benefit the wider community.

PREPARATION AND PLANNING

The bid for funding from the £100K anti-sectarianism project fund had a project outline resulting from discussions between senior management of both schools. Following the successful bid, the deputes and class teachers of both schools met, planned activities in more detail and reviewed resources available, and a focus group of parents, depute headteachers and pupils from Earnhill and Sacred Heart was established.

At the beginning of the project, staff baselined pupils’ views on sectarianism using circle time activities where the pupils were encouraged to speak freely about questions like “What is a bigot?”. Staff found from this that most pupils related sectarianism to football. This valuable insight into the pupils’ concepts of sectarianism meant that staff needed to include activities to raise pupil awareness of the wider picture of sectarianism and the real-life consequences of bigotry.

The aims of the project were:

to learn more about other people’s religion and beliefs
to find ways of showing respect for and celebrating people’s differences
to promote practical ways to challenge sectarianism in the wider Inverclyde community.

PROCESSES AND PRODUCTS

Through the media of expressive arts and talking and listening for learning and citizenship, staff provided the pupils with joint active learning sessions taking place weekly, alternating venues between the schools.

Joint workshops were held on feelings and emotions of being left out or different.
Pupils volunteered to take part in a joint drama group developing a production called “Breaking Down the Wall” (adapted from the don’t give it, don’t take it anti-sectarianism web resource).
A selection of pupils composed and performed a rap on anti-sectarianism.
The two classes entered a competition to design a logo for the “Firm friends” project. The winning logo appeared on T-shirts, pencils and all publicity materials.
The pupils held and judged an anti-sectarianism competition which was open to all primary school pupils in Inverclyde. This was divided into three sections: P1–3, anti-sectarianism poster; P4–5, anti-sectarianism poem; P6–7, “Thoughts on being a (Muslim, Hindu, Catholic etc.)”. This provided another valuable insight into the impact of positive and negative experiences that other pupils have incurred because of their religious beliefs.
Following a suggestion from the Focus Group, a visit was arranged to the Central Mosque in Glasgow. This provided pupils with a very visual appreciation of the practicalities of following a religion other than their own. It helped them empathise with pupils from another faith and provided them with a valuable real-life experience that cannot be taught.
The schools held a P6 Conference inviting three representatives from each primary school in Inverclyde and the local special school. Bruce Wilkinson from UNICEF was the guest presenter. The event involved pupils collaborating with peers in child-centred practical workshops. The activities targeted stereotyping and jumping to conclusions.
The pupils had the opportunity to work with the Council’s Corporate Communications Head of Service to plan their publicity and learn how to promote the anti-sectarian message.
“The Journey” of the “Firm Friends” project was recorded and the images used to create a powerful powerpoint presentation describing the activities and highlighting key messages.
The pupils hosted a high-profile launch of the project at James Watt College Waterfront Campus to which headteachers, Heads of Service, the Director of Education and the Provost were invited.

WHAT THE PUPILS LEARNED

The pupils have come a long way since the start of the project. They now fully appreciate that everyone is different and that we should celebrate each other’s differences. Here are some of the pupils’ thoughts and wishes on the way ahead:

Children have the right to think and believe what they want, and to practise their religion, as long as they are not stopping other people from enjoying their rights (UNICEF Rights of the Child, Article 14).
We may have different religions but we are all the same.
I’ve learned that there is a lot of sectarianism going on around the world and we can do something to stop it.
Learn to respect each other.
People compare football with religion. It doesn’t matter what team you support or what religion you are – we are all people and all special.
Sectarianism isn’t cool!

MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP

The headteachers of the two schools met regularly with staff to keep the project on track as well as allowing staff time to meet and plan activities. The schools were supported by the education authority in attending the launch and giving the project high profile within Inverclyde. The impact within the authority has been wider than we had hoped with very positive feedback from those attending the conference and launch.

A teaching resource pack and DVD will go out to all primary and special schools early next session. Further information about this resource pack can be obtained from the headteachers of both schools (contact details at the end of this report).

The pupils engaged very enthusiastically with the project and the commitment and hard work of the pupils and their teachers led to Earnhill and Sacred Heart Primary Schools winning the “One Scotland – Anti-Sectarianism” Scottish Education Award. This has brought even more publicity and impact to the project.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO A CURRICULUM FOR EXCELLENCE

All involved with this project would consider it to be A Curriculum for Excellence in action. The schools feel they have enhanced the following aspects in their schools as a result of this initiative:

Successful Learners

· enthusiasm and motivation for learning

· determination to reach high standards of achievement

· openness to new thinking and ideas

· able to use literacy and communication skills

· using technology for learning

· thinking creatively and independently

· learning as part of a group

· making reasoned evaluations

Responsible Citizens

· respect for others

· commitment to participating responsibly in political, social and cultural life

· understand different beliefs and cultures

· make informed choices and decisions

· develop informed, ethical views of complex issues

Confident Individuals

· with self-respect

· secure values and beliefs

· able to relate to others

· develop and communicate their own beliefs and view of the world

· assess risk and take informed decisions

· achieve success in different areas of activity

Effective Contributors

· able to communicate in different ways and in different settings

· work in partnerships and teams

· take initiative and lead

· create and develop

· solve problems

FUTURE PLANS AND PROSPECTS / SPREADING GOOD PRACTICE

The project will be sustainable. The two schools involved will build this work into their PSD programme and the resources used in the project will be made available to schools across the authority.

The Janitor at Sacred Heart Primary organised a lunchtime football tournament for P6 and P7 with mixed teams for both schools. The school is planning a joint residential trip next session for the two classes involved. They have already begun with a joint visit to Blair Drummond Safari Park to celebrate their achievements and further develop their friendship.

Next session the schools plan to send the pupils out to other primary schools which wish to reinforce the anti-sectarian message to share ideas and experiences. The schools are considering making the P6 Conference an annual event. Parents were invited to assemblies held at each school presented by all the pupils involved. The schools feel they have evidence of pupils challenging sectarian comments at home and the messages have been taken out via displays and leaflets to Catholic and Church of Scotland churches in the locality.

The schools believe that the skills and knowledge the pupils have gained during this joint project will enrich their social and emotional development as citizens of the future. The pupils have also been given the opportunity to gain in confidence and self-esteem as they are presenting and organising whole-authority events. Through this, and similar events, the school hopes to shape the values of their pupils who will be well equipped to take their place in a society where everyone is valued and their differences are celebrated.

A JOURNEY TO EXCELLENCE

Both schools have completed a first stage on the journey to excellence in equality and fairness in respect to anti-sectarian education. The school has addressed many of the ten dimensions of A Journey to Excellence, in particular:

Dimension 1: engages young people in the highest-quality learning activities

Dimension 3: develops a common vision across children and young people, parents and staff

Dimension 5: works in partnership with other agencies and its community

Dimension 7: reflects on its own work and thrives on challenge

Dimension 8: values and empowers its staff and young people

Dimension 9: promotes wellbeing and respect

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information about the work of Earnhill Primary and Sacred Heart Primary, contact the headteachers.

Earnhill Primary
Chester Road
Greenock
PA16 0TT

Headteacher: Janet Leicester

Telephone: 01475 715674

Email: jal784@inverclydeschools.org.uk

Sacred Heart Primary School
Westmorland Road
Greenock
PA16 0TS

Headteacher: Kate Boyd

Telephone: 01475 715712

Email: Admin.SacredHeartPrimarySchool@inverclydeschools,org.uk