Ideal School Introduction

Overview

Duration: 30 minutes
Class size: 10 students
Unit: Building Our Ideal School (Lesson 1 of 6)
Subject: Religious Education
UK Curriculum Links:

• Religious Education (2023 Model Syllabus, England) – Encourages personal reflection and the exploration of values and beliefs that contribute to community life.
• PSHE Association Programme of Study (Key Stage 2) – Addresses building positive relationships, respect, and community values.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

• Reflect on their personal experiences of school and articulate what makes a school ‘ideal’ from their perspective.
• Participate collaboratively in a group discussion to share and listen to different viewpoints.
• Begin to identify core values and characteristics that contribute to a positive and inclusive school environment, linking to themes of respect, community, and wellbeing.

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Curriculum Links and Rationale

This lesson supports the statutory duty to promote SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development) and Fundamental British Values by encouraging respect, tolerance, and critical thinking about how communities can function positively. The focus on personal experience and shared values aligns with the RE framework goals to explore how beliefs and values shape behaviour in community settings.

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Resources Needed

• Sticky notes or small cards (1 per student)
• A large sheet of paper or whiteboard for recording ideas
• Pens or pencils
• “Ideal School” prompt questions printed on a sheet for display
• Reflection worksheet with simple prompts (prepared for later use)

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Starter Activity – My School Snapshot (5 minutes)

• Purpose: Activate prior knowledge and personal reflection.
• Ask students to think quietly for 1 minute about what they like most about their current school.
• Each student writes or draws their top thing on a sticky note or card.
• Collect these and display them on the board or wall under the heading “What makes my school great?”
• Briefly highlight some examples to validate different experiences (e.g., “I like the sports facilities,” “Teachers make learning fun,” “Everyone is treated fairly”).

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2. Group Discussion – Defining Our Ideal School (15 minutes)

• Purpose: Enable collaborative exploration of values and qualities an ideal school should have.
• Pose these central questions, displaying them for all to see:
  • What makes a school a good place for everyone?
  • How can a school help everyone to feel safe and respected?
  • Why is it important to listen to others in school?
• Use a ‘Talking Object’ or soft ball to manage turn-taking, encouraging every student to contribute at least one idea.
• Teacher facilitates, draws connections between ideas, and gently challenges stereotypes or negative statements.
• Write key themes and values on the board (e.g., kindness, fairness, inclusion, safety, fun learning, respect).
• Encourage students to think about both the physical environment and social/emotional atmosphere.

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3. Reflective Summary – Our Shared Vision (7 minutes)

• In pairs, students pick their two favourite qualities or ideas from the group discussion that they think are most important for an ideal school.
• Each pair shares their choices with the whole group, explaining why they selected them.
• Teacher lists these and highlights emerging consensus or particularly insightful comments.
• Concluding question to the class: “How can we bring these ideas into our own school community?”

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4. Plenary – Quick Write (3 minutes)

• Students write a short sentence or two responding to: “If I could change one thing to make our school more ideal, it would be...”
• Collect these for review and to inform future lessons in the unit.

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Differentiation and Inclusion

• Provide sentence starters or word banks for students who need writing support.
• Use visual prompts and allow drawing for expressing ideas if preferred.
• Ensure the ‘Talking Object’ system encourages quieter students to participate safely.
• Be ready to mediate and reframe contributions to maintain a positive, respectful environment.

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Assessment Opportunities

• Informal assessment through observation of group discussion contributions and engagement.
• Review of the “Quick Write” plenary responses to gauge understanding and attitudes.
• Teacher notes on emerging themes and values to shape the next lessons.

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Extension Ideas

• Create a class ‘Ideal School Charter’ collaboratively to display throughout the unit.
• Begin a ‘Values Wall’ where students can add positive community behaviours observed at school.

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Reflection for Teachers

• Did students feel comfortable sharing their opinions?
• Were diverse perspectives represented in the discussion?
• What surprised or interested you most about the values students prioritised?
• How will you use this insight to tailor future lessons?

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This lesson invites young learners to thoughtfully explore their shared learning environment through a personal and community lens grounded in RE principles – fostering respect and belonging right from the start of the unit.