Assemblies

We value the contribution that assemblies make to enriching pupils’ personal development. Every Monday, the whole school receives a virtual briefing and themed assembly. This consists of a weekly briefly led Mr Watters or another senior leader and then a themed assembly delivered by different staff with some occasional external speakers and visitors. Much thought has been given to the themes and sequencing of our assembly programme. We highlight specific national or international awareness days as well as seek to build upon learning that takes place within the classroom. Sometimes, assemblies can be an excellent introductory platform for new concepts which pupils then gain greater levels of knowledge and understanding in, applying what they have learned in different contexts and subjects. Pupils also convene as a year group once a week in Fellside Hall led by the pastoral leadership team. This creates a great sense of community. Coming together, we use this precious time to reflect on the weekly themed assembly, and allow pupils to explore their understanding and appreciation of the world (including spiritual, moral, cultural and social dimensions), aspects of their own personal development, safety and wellbeing, and the world of work. Pastoral assemblies also give opportunities to celebrate success around attendance and behaviour, provide a spotlight for key achievements and noteworthy pupil participation in a variety of extracurricular activities and other curriculum enrichment opportunities, and learn how the school house system is doing in terms of P-Points totals. Each week, we invite different House Captains to share the results of P-Points for each school house. Please find information about our assembly schedule for this term below. If you would like to have a discussion about any topics, please feel free to make contact initially with your child’s form tutor who will then liaise with the relevant key stage Pastoral Leader or staff member delivering the assembly. We encourage parents/carers to explore our assembly themes and unpick the focus Skills Builder skill as well as the spotlight character trait. Thank you in advance to all parents/carers for your support in the reinforcement of key messages shared.

Assembly and Form Time Overview

Autumn Term 1 Overview

During this half term, pupils will have the opportunity to explore the concept of being courageous as well as develop a greater understanding of how to develop their listening skills, which is an essential component of communication. These elements of personal development are particularly important as pupils start a new academic year. Courage comes in many different guises in life. At Hexham Middle School, we acknowledge that courage, as a character value, is a product of different core emotional responses, including anger; disgust; love; and joy. We value how our pupils can demonstrate courage both physically and mentally and we seek opportunities for them to be courageous within school and beyond.

Assemblies throughout this half term focus on key themes of personal development, including: emotion coaching, Zones of Regulation, safeguarding, developing oracy, and building a sense of community and spirit. During form time, pupils will have the opportunity to review their understanding of our school values of respect, engage and aspire. They will also be encouraged to consider how they will ‘PARTICIPATE’, primarily in school, but also within the wider community, as an active citizen. There will be chance for pupils to participate in debate and engage in some creative activities.

Aspire Icon Assemblies

This year we have form-tutor assemblies focusing on our Aspire Icons as part of the personal development programme. For the Autumn Term, groups of 5 pupils in each form group will be tasked to meet and produce a 5-minute assembly on an ‘Aspire’ icon.

This half term, pupils will share a history profile of the Aspire icon:

Year 5: Rosa Parks

Year 6: Anne Frank

Year 7: Martin Luther King Junior

Year 8: Harriet Tubman

Week	Title	Personal Development themes/strands
1	Welcome Back led by Pastoral Leaders/LWA) on First Day - The HMS Way! • Emotion Coaching • Zones of Regulation • Sharing what Respect, Engage, Aspire means. • Opportunities for Leadership (Led by Mr Watters and Pastoral Middle Leaders)	• PSHE/RSHE • Mental Health and Wellbeing • Citizenship – Community Cohesion • Skills and Character Education
2	Safeguarding Key messages: 5WH of keeping everyone safe– Behaviour for Learning. (led by Ms Khan)	• PSHE Curriculum • Staying Safe and Well Curriculum
3	T&L – Reading for Pleasure Led by Mrs Ingledew	• Skills and Character Education
4	House Hustings	• Skills and Character Education • Citizenship • British Values - Democracy
5	Oracy at HMS - Talk Tactics Led by JNI	• Links to Democracy/Politics/UK Parliament Week/School Council
6	What is Personal Development? Led by PFM Why is the development of skills and character important? Focus on what makes a good listener and courage seen in key British aspire icons. • Explaining the Participation Pledge • Reminder of extracurricular clubs	• Skills and Character Education • Participation • Careers • PSHE/RSHE Curriculum
7	Courage and Antibullying approach (STOP!) + Pol Ed Resources Led by Mr Scott	• Character Education • RSHE Curriculum • Citizenship/British Values
8	Online Assembly Skills Builder Day/Diwali Led by Mr Freeman-Myers	• Skills Curriculum • PERS Curriculum • Social, Moral, Spiritual, Cultural (SMSC)

Autumn Term 2 Overview

During this half term, pupils will have the opportunity explore the character value of gratitude as well as develop a greater understanding of how to develop their speaking skills, which is an essential component of communication. Since pupils have recently undertaken the first Skills Builder Day of the year, they will have been reminded of how they can use many of the 8 essential skills to support their personal development. Last half term, we started with the essential skill of listening. We believe that listening is a key element of our wider school values of respect, engage and aspire. Assemblies throughout this half term focus on some key themes of including the annual commemoration of Armistice Day, anti-bullying, and Advent. We will also take the opportunity to dive deeper into children’s rights, the patron saints of the United Kingdom, and water safety at winter time. During form time this half term, there will be a chance for pupils to reflect on why many across the UK and the rest of world remember those involved in past and present wars and conflicts.

Aspire Icon Assemblies

For the Autumn Term, groups of 5 pupils in each form group will be tasked to meet and produce a 5-minute assembly on an ‘Aspire’ icon. This half term pupils will focus on the impact and legacy of the Aspire Icon:

Year 5: Rosa Parks
Year 6: Anne Frank
Year 7: Martin Luther King Junior
Year 8: Harriet Tubman

Week	Title	Personal Development themes/strands
1	Winter Water Safety (Pol-Ed) Led by Mr Freeman-Myers (Assistant Headteacher for Personal Development)	• PSHE/RSHE Curriculum • Staying Safe and Well Curriculum
2	Armistice Day Acknowledgements Led by Mr Johnson (Head of History and Geography)	• British Values • Citizenship • Character Education
3	The rights and wellbeing of Children – The United Nations Convention on the rights of Children - UNCRC Led by Miss Lamont (Deputy Head of Key Stage 3)	• PSHE • British Values/Citizenship
4	How are the Patron Saints of the UK linked to our politics and British Values? Led by Mr Freeman-Myers and supported by Head Pupils	• Citizenship • Community Cohesion • British Values • PSHE/RSHE Curriculum
5	Advent – “… in a Time of Crisis: Hope, Courage and Gratitude.” Message/Christmas Blessing from Hexham Clergy – arranged by Mr Freeman-Myers	• PERS Curriculum • Social, Moral, Spiritual, Cultural (SMSC)
6	Human Rights Day – "Advent and Human Rights – Let Light Shine in Darkness" Led by Miss Bell (Deputy Head of Key Stage 2)	• Citizenship • PERS Curriculum • Social, Moral, Spiritual, Cultural (SMSC)
7	Christingle Assemblies - Led by Heads of Key Stage and supported by Hexham Middle School House Captains and PERS students from QEHS	• PERS Curriculum • Social, Moral, Spiritual, Cultural (SMSC)