Priory Primary School, Bedford  

Currently working towards the U&K Schools’ Mark

“The impact so far has been like weaving a web of ideas so we all strengthen our commitments to the school ethos.”

When the staff team first started talking about Useful & Kind Unlimited in school, it helped us put into words the general idea of "that's just how we do things here!". The school has an ethos and character that we hadn't previously been able to capture in such a clear and simple way as being Useful & Kind to self, others and the world. But it has been far more than just an affirmation - we have really been able to move on our practice using the insights of the SOW model.

The impact has been like weaving a web of ideas so we strengthen our commitments to the school ethos - our activities have a clearer purpose - planting vegetables in school... to share with the Salvation Army, a Design Technology unit making toys ... to give to the Nursery, learning mindful and relaxation techniques ... to prepare us to learn more effectively, hanging bird feeders in the forest school area ... to encourage and respect our natural environment.

As we start to plan activities in a community secured by Covid vaccinations, we look forward to 'making a difference' for our local Care Home, getting out into the open parks to 'give and get' from the local environment and to re-establish pupil support and forums between age groups, so we can begin to focus on our pupils' leadership skills. U&K has lit a fire!

Headteacher, Priory Primary School, Bedford

Monkhouse Primary School, North Shields

Part of a pilot with schools in the North Tyneside Learning Trust

“ Useful and Kind became day-to-day language in our school. It was a mantra.”

We are committed to real life and global learning to ignite pupil passion. As a result, being useful and kind is included  in every aspect of Monkhouse – lessons , assemblies and through groups such as Eco Warriors , Pupil Leaders and Opal Leaders. 

The U&K Venn diagram was a powerful starting point for us. We used this visual on a weekly basis for children to reflect on what they had done to be useful and kind to Self, Others and World. This gave children and teachers a chance to be part of real life discussions and really helped our children to think about our local community and our wider global community too .

Useful and Kind became day-to-day language in our school. It was a mantra. Children questioned everything. Was what they were doing useful ? Was it kind ? Was it helpful? We started to notice and name children and adults demonstrating useful and kind behaviours and leadership in our weekly celebration assemblies. Teachers nominated children for a special award but children also nominated their peers and adults within the school community.

As a school, we have now reviewed our behaviour for learning system to support our vision of being an emotional healthy school and to further embed U&K. We have introduced a restorative ‘Think system’ - an approach that fosters awareness of how others have been affected by inappropriate behaviour. It engages the children in a process that separates the deed from the doer and acknowledges the child's worth and contribution to the school.

In our school community, Useful and Kind does not stand alone, it is a scaffolding that pulls together parts of our school ethos , values and ways of working to help our children be their best selves. U&K has been a fantastic tool to support our whole school approach to this.

Lorna Elliot, U&K Leader, Monkhouse Primary School

Kingsmead Primary School, Cheshire

The first school to embed Useful and Kind at the heart of its ethos

“Children have a keen sense of what it means to be useful and kind to Self, Others and World.”

Each person learning and working at Kingsmead is expected to contribute and participate fully to the benefit of themselves, other people and the environment. We understand that, while only one species among many, our actions will affect the future of our planet.

From the youngest pupils aged just four, to our Year 6 pupils aged eleven, children have a keen sense of what it means to be useful and kind to Self, Others and World. (U&K SOW model).

Useful and Kind in our school community doesn’t have to be visible and is sometimes better not seen. A family made a hamper this year for another family that were struggling. They didn’t want to know who or to be thanked, just an idea of all family members so they could choose gifts. It arrived, I was able to share it with the family privately; they were so appreciative. When I spoke to the mum who’d organised this, she said her children had learned and gained so much from doing it. We sometimes forget that about charity, sharing and kindness - it benefits the giver at least as much as the receiver.

Useful and Kind gave us language that the whole school community could easily understand – it definitely gave us a very clear shared mantra. I noticed that children became much more accepting of difference and understood that being useful and kind isn’t always about just correcting others. Parents now use the language too and this is when we realised U&K had truly become a way of being in our school. Useful & Kind impacted on our existing culture because we were already committed to this way of thinking – it helped us to develop our ethos further.

Catriona Stewart, Headteacher, Cheshire

To find out more and discuss the possibilities for your school, please contact lyanne@usefulandkindunlimited.com.