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Children develop empathy skills
Posted: 23rd January 2019Children are developing their empathy skills as they look at issues affecting society.
Year 7 students at Forest Hall School are taking part in a four-week workshop run by Hope Not Hate.
The organisation has worked with Forest Hall previously to open students’ eyes to UK politics and ways of life. Weekly sessions challenged students to take part in tasks to spark debate and get them to consider different scenarios in both their local and wider communities.
The ambassadors programme is seeing students take a baseline test to register their levels of knowledge and empathy at the start of the project and again at the end to see how they have developed.
Jon Perry, head of humanities, said: “Students are really engaging with the programme and are open to discussing different issues in society, being respectful when sharing their opinions.
“They are showing they are growing empathy skills as well as developing academically while acknowledging different groups in society. It is really important that we educate the whole child in such a diverse community and being so close to London.
“The results, so far, have been fantastic.” Four groups of students have already completed the programme, with the rest of the year group to take part in the new year.
The organisation is also hosting a training session with Forest Hall staff to ensure they are up to date with issues facing young people in society today.