More than a school

At SSQ, we don't just educate; we aim to inspire and empower the next generation. We see ourselves as more than a school; working together from the core, equipping our community to thrive and to build a better world for themselves and others. For years, we've dedicated ourselves to campaigns that address issues affecting our families. Campaigns that ensure our commitment extends beyond the classroom walls. These campaigns have been highly successful in empowering our children and families to see the difference that they can make when positive change is needed. They have included campaigns on addressing the sky-high cost of child citizenship, the lack of access to Free School Meals for children with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) and the minimal amount of information available to families in Temporary Accommodation. However, these campaigns would tend to only involve parents and children directly affected by the particular issues.

Campaigning as part of the SSQ curriculum

Wanting to make this experience a universal offer, we embarked on a mission to integrate campaigning into our curriculum. This led to the birth of our community projects, specifically designed to empower the next generation. Now every SSQ child has the opportunity to become an activist and advocate, not only for themselves but for the entire community.

During the lockdown in 2020, we collaborated with Citizen's UK. Together we developed a community organising school model, enriching our projects with purpose. This approach involves listening circles, identifying shared passions, planning impactful actions, and measuring success. Over the last three years, this model has empowered our children to initiate projects that genuinely make a difference in our community. Take, for instance, our Year 3 cohort passionately addressing a pervasive pest infestation problem in their homes. The children recognised that council inaction was the root issue. They strategically wrote letters on pest-shaped templates, catching the council's attention and bringing about positive change.

The impact of SuperKind

In our mission to constantly strengthen and refine our curriculum offer, we discovered SuperKind. Superkind is an award-winning platform bringing social action and philanthropy into classrooms. This invaluable resource has equipped our teachers with the knowledge and confidence to tackle global issues, promoting awareness of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This year, our community projects are aligned with one of these SDGs. This allows students to explore and engage with real-world challenges. Teachers initially selected three SDGs, allowing students to vote for the one that inspired them the most. This process not only builds links to democracy, but also instils leadership skills and a sense of agency in our children. By leveraging SuperKind's case studies and toolkits, our children have planned their actions, drawing inspiration from real changemakers worldwide. As our children embark on their actions, we eagerly anticipate the impact they will have.

The Future

With each project, SSQ continues to strengthen its commitment to empower the next generation and develop compassionate leaders. In dedicating time and space to this critical work, our children will leave us armed with the knowledge that they are never too small to make a difference. This play a crucial role in shaping a brighter future for all.