E-bulletins - Teaching and Learning

Starting a new term with new teachers, new classrooms and new subjects is hard work for everybody. This primary assembly considers what it’s like to settle down in a new classroom as everyone looks forward to the half-term break

This secondary citizenship assembly acts as an introduction to Black History Month, while examining the value of studying history in general. It also tells the story of the first black person to drive a London bus, Joe Clough

This e-bulletin focuses on thinking tools for promoting emotional engagement and ownership - again focusing on the first of the six areas of the QCA’s Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills framework, developing ‘independent enquirers’

Many children have role models in popular culture, but what merits are they looking for and what is is that they celebrate? This primary assembly discusses possible qualities in role models using two publicly celebrated men who have now passed away; Sir Stanley Matthews and Paul Newman

Inspire your pupils and students to take part in little acts of heroism. This assembly looks at the need that society has for heroes and what we can learn from them, using two notable examples from popular culture: James Bond and Doctor Who

This primary assembly revisits the theme of the Paralympics and contender Eleanor Simmonds. It discusses her journey - and the fact that she won two gold medals - and explores how it might feel for her to return home

The Paralympic Games are the focus of this assembly for primary schools, which explores issues related to the theme of disability and the attitude and determination demanded by professional sport

What does it means to be British? In this citizenship assembly for key stages 3, 4, and 5, students are invited to consider national identity, in the light of the government’s proposal for a “British” bank holiday

After introducing enquiry, Anne de A'Echevarria helps students develop their own understanding of what enquiry is and how it might be structured using resources and practical activities, as a continuation of our in-depth focus on developing ‘independent enquirers’

Although most children enjoy keeping pets, some may overlook the cruelty being inflicted when animals are kept that, although particularly cute, are also particularly unsuited to living out of their natural habitat. This primary assembly explores this danger with the children

The modern world's obsession with speed is the focus of this assembly for secondary schools. It looks at whether doing things quickly really is of that much benefit, and questions whether, by focusing on doing things quickly, we are appreciating them less

This assembly for primary schools discusses the Battle of Britain, in particular focusing on the Polish RAF Pilot Janusz Zurakowsk. It teaches primary children elements of British history, as well as bringing to their attention the stories there are to hear, and lessons there are to learn, from older generations

The issues of western resource waste and world hunger are highlighted in this ethics assembly for secondary school children. It bases its message around the true story of a fisherman who made a stand by refusing to throw away the excess fish that he caught

This Learning and Thinking Skills provides suggestions of how to introduce the idea of enquiry to young learners using practical ideas and classroom resources, as the first in our series taking an in-depth focus on developing ‘independent enquirers’ - the first of the six skill areas of the PLTS framework

There is a difference between doing your best and being the best. This secondary assembly discusses the distinction in light of the recent successes of Great Britain's Olympic team, and reminds students that doing their best is good enough

Harvest time in the fields can also be one rich in learning for schools. This primary assembly discusses how a good or a bad harvest can affect individual farmers – as well as anyone who eats a slice of toast for breakfast

The release of Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt after six and a half years (2,321 days) as a hostage in the Colombian rain forest is something to celebrate, and is also an opportunity to discuss the use of violence as a means of coercion read more

'Teaching thinking' raises key questions and concerns about how something as complex as 'thinking' can be described in order to make it accessible and visible for colleagues and students

This PSHE assembly educates pupils on the National Health Service (NHS) and its development. It also encourages students to think about the physical, mental and spiritual health issues that affect them

This primary assembly has a theatrical theme, using the phenomenon that is 'High School Musical' to explore the enjoyment of live theatre and celebrating differences read more

During the last few weeks before the summer holidays, use this secondary assembly to discuss issues such as whether school should be compulsory, and the minimum age for leaving. It also wishes students well during their holidays, and invites them to reflect on the year that has passed

What is your wish-list for the kind of skills you would like your students to leave school with? This issue explains the QCA's framework for Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills (PLTS) and provides ideas on how you can apply this in practice

This week, four men tried to row across the Atlantic from New York to their home in the Isles of Scilly. This assembly tells the story of their attempt and explains the rowers’ philosophy that it’s better to have tried and not succeeded, than never to have tried at all

Challenge your pupils to consider how they see the world and whether their way of looking at it could benefit from further reflection, with this secondary assembly

This year is the centenary of the 1908 Children Act, which set the legal standard for child protection, setting out principles that we now take for granted. It was largely the responsibility of Herbert Samuel, a young under secretary of state who later became leader of the Liberal Party

What is the secret to a happy lifestyle? This assembly discusses Professor Richard Layard's governmental research on the state of the nation's happiness, and asks student what happiness means to them in this secondary assembly

How should we react to charity appeals − particularly those that we see on television? This PSHE secondary assembly compares the different public responses to the recent disasters in Burma and China and asks how we should respond

Just weeks before the Beijing Olympics, 22-year-old British heptathlon star, Jessica Ennis, one of our hopes for a medal, received the news that she cannot compete, having fractured her ankle in competition. Jessica’s disappointment and her courageous response to the dreadful blow form the theme of this assembly read more

This whole-school assembly looks at equality with reference to the suffrage movement, specifically the part played by Emily Davison atthe 1913 Epsom Derby suicide

Scientists looking at the world food shortage are wondering whether we should all be eating more insects. This assembly discusses the issue and draws in the serious debate about world food shortages read more

Conflict and war are looked at by Jaki Miles-Windmill is this assembly taking an objective look at human behaviour in our attitudes towards them, with particular reference to war in Afghanistan

The issue of sexual equality is explored in this secondary assembly, using the example of female scientists and the problems they may experience within their chosen career - notably the dilemmas of a work-life balance. It challenges listeners to consider their own priorities

Last week, Yves Rossy became the first person to fly with body-mounted wings under jet power, not just holding level flight but climbing for a short while. This assembly celebrates man’s desire to fly like the birds read more

A brief outline of the USA's political system and the idea of checks and balances is laid out in this assembly for key stages three and four. It encourages students to think about the checks they need to make on their lives and what living a balanced life means

When Yosuke, an African grey parrot, escaped from his cage near Tokyo, everyone thought he was lost – until he announced his name and address to the people who had found him

This assembly tells the story of Shackleton's endurance and leadership and explains why the descendants of the original team want to follow in his footsteps read more

Exploring the instinct of panic with your students touches on both SEAL and PSHE issues. This assembly looks at the emotion within the context of national fuel crises

Well known violinist, Philippe Quint, left a Stradivarius violin in a New York Taxi. He was frantic, until it was returned to him next day by the taxi driver

Whilst touching on the harmful affects of drugs and alcohol, this assembly examines the different ways in which people seek to feel a 'buzz' in life - some in healthy ways and others more harmfully

This assembly looks at how the two countries have responded to the disastrous cyclone and earthquake, and how foreign aid workers are trying to help read more

This assembly looks forward to the coming of summer and thinks about what it would be like without butterflies, by focusing on some of the endangered species found in Britain read more

What difference could you make, during your life, to society? That is the question this assembly asks pupils, with particular regard to the politician Gwyneth Dunwoody whose life and work it remembers

Martin Luther King was assassinated forty years ago (in 2008). This assembly for secondary schools commemorates his life and aims to teach pupils about his goal to eliminate inequality

This week's assembly explores the debate about biofuel. It gets pupils thinking about their everyday use of fossil fuels and discusses the possible alternatives read more

The Salaam Shalom Educational Foundation (SSEF) helps to bring together Israeli and Palestinian young people through drama. Examining conflict resolution, this assembly for secondary school children focuses on, and illustrates, their work

What does the word loyalty mean to your students? This assembly looks at this issue of loyalty, drawing on the recent call for pupils to pledge allegiance to the Queen

This week's assembly looks at conservation, using the example of a pair of ospreys who have returned to nest again at the Scottish Wildlife Trust Centre read more

This citizenship and PSHE assembly for secondary schools looks at the concept of democracy, getting pupils to consider what democracy means and how living in a democratic society affects their lives

This week's assembly tells the story of Paula Radcliffe, focusing on her experiences as an asthma sufferer and looking at how she is preparing for the Olympics in Beijing.

This assembly aims to help pupils recognise and appreciate the significance of every day. It draws on events that occurred on a specific date in history, illustrating how the still impact upon our lives today. This assembly focuses on the specific date 6th March, but school leaders may like to use the basic concept and alter it for use on other days of the year

E-bulletins – Teaching and Learning