GBA Actioneers 2018/19

GBA Actioneers has grown and grown since its introduction in 2016!  It is a time when pupils are given the opportunity to ask questions, reflect on things happening elsewhere in the world, explore their own values and the values of others and develop a knowledge and understanding of the world in which we live.

Class One related the question to conflicts in the playground.  They advised:

• Ask an adult
• Say sorry if you're wrong
• Play nicely
• Ask other children to join you
• Be nice and don't hurt each other

Here are some of the answers that were given in class two and three:

'If the world was a bit more quieter and calmer the world would be a lovely environment to live your life in.  Smile to one another and eventually, if you put a smile on everyone's face, then the word will be a happy place.'

'Don't let children become violent and see the world with kind eyes.  A smile a day makes a kind place.'

'By Communicating and listening and also helping and seeing the good in the person.  Having a good time and staying calm.'

'If we work together and stop fighting peace will break out so will have rights all around the world.  This will mean a stop of poverty and homelessness.'

Pupils worked collaboratively to organise the pictures given to assess how polluting they thought each thing was.  They then considered the questions about what they could do to reduce pollution.  They suggested:

• walking instead of driving
• don't leave the car running for longer than necessary
• use electric cars
• to work together to use less things
• turn lights off
• share cars with family and friends

Children in class one told Miss Drury:

'We respect each other's rights.'

'We make sure everyone has a chance to play and a rest which is a right.'

'The teacher make sure you learn which is a right.'

'We learn about our rights.'

'The children need to listen to each other's opinions.'

In Key Stage Two the pupils' responded:

'It means that every child in the school has their rights and we should be proud that we are a rights and respecting school.  Everyone in the school knows their rights, every single person.'

'It means we learn about our rights and work together to help others learn about their rights and to enjoy them, for they are ours.'

'It means that we are special as there are just over one thousand schools that do the same.  It also means that we stick to the rights and hence the name, 'rights and respecting' we respect the rights.'

'It is important to remember because they gave their lives for us and we don't want history to repeat itself.  If history was to repeat itself these people would have risked their lives to win the war and we wouldn't have learned to live in peace and their work would be pointless.'

'It is important to remember because they sacrifice their lives for us to have a better future.  It is also very respectful to remember who they were.'

'It is important that we remember because they sacrificed their lives for our life and we respect them for the choice they made.'

'They were the ones who gave us freedom and hope.'

'It is respectful to remember people.  We have a happy life; those who fought for us didn't have a long happy life.  We will not forget those people who fought for out lives, our future and our freedom.' 

We explored the differences between equity and equality and Adele summed it up beautifully: with equality you all get the same whereas with equity you get what you need.

If we make people realise how much plastic is being used and how many animals are dying from pollution then it will hopefully maker them care more.

To show people the damage they are doing to our oceans.

We can spread the word, put up signs and work together - show people what they are actually doing.

Responses from some of the groups:

'It does because your behaviour reflects on how people judge you and your personality.'

'Yes because if you are naughty, people will think you are a naughty person.'

'Yes, because if you misbehave people may think that you will always misbehave.  If you tell people a lie, people won't believe in you even if what you are saying is true.'

'Yes, if we always behave perfectly then we are more likely to be trusted, however, if we do not behave well we are less likely to be trusted.'

'Yes because one of our rights is to have a voice, this is why we should challenge rules, but remember, some are protecting you and your rights.'

'No, because we should respect our rules, they are here to keep us safe and other people/things safe.  Although we do have our own opinion.'

'Yes if you do it sensibly.'

'Sometimes you can challenge the rule if you handle it well and have a good reason for it.'

Pupils had some interesting responses to the question asked - some felt it was simply wrong and children and they should never be carers, others felt that their parents loved them and if they could care for them they would and others felt we should say thank you but not just once year.  Below are some of the responses they recorded:

'We do need a young carers day because what about if your mum or gran is poorly, would you just leave them or help?  I would help them to get better because we need them and they need us.  We need to support young carers and make people recognise that this is stealing their childhood.'

'Yes we should because we need to respect and say thank you to the young carers who are nice to others.'

'Yes we should because if we didn't we would forget the children who have to live differently to help people in need.'

'Yes because it's a time to think and respect them for what they do, but it's also a time to raise awareness so we know what they , and at times we, can do to help.'

'Yes we do need a young carers day because it is important that we thank and respect young carers and make sure that they are noticed.'

The pupils' tweets:

I love this school because the teachers are like so cool and caring.  They are always there for you when you need them no matter what.

We are proud to say that we have a silver rights and respecting school award.

If we were to write a tweet about school then we would write about how our school is an amazing place.  And how we have achieved many awards throughout the years.  Our school is a kind, respecting and a helpful environment, with many members of staff to support us.

Gipsey Bridge Academy is fantastic because the children are behaved and they work well together.  They learn about the rights of a child and work with other schools all over the world.  The teachers are also very supportive and help the children the best they can.  

Responses to the question:

It's the right thing to do because if you have a really bad leg and you fall off your bike you might hurt your leg and make it worse, however, people give up way too early.'

'There are times when it is good to stop because it could effect you mental or physical health.  However, sometimes you just need to keep battling on.'

'Yes, there is a time to give up if you have tried as hard as you possibly can and you need help.'

'Never give up in life because if you always give up you will not achieve anything.'

'No because you have only got a certain time to live and enjoy your dream so never give up even if you break a bone!  be resilient!'

'We think yes because if you are in an argument and you know that the other person is correct and you are wrong then you should stop the argument.' 

In response to the question:

'Keep going, never give up, try your hardest, be positive.'

'Keep trying and trying, never give up on anything.  Try your hardest because there will always be a positive outcome.'

'A test can be as simple as a spelling test, but it can be a life long test that can determine your life.  If you give up on this you are showing a lack of resilience.  Ever hear the saying: Try, try, and try again?'

'If at first you do not succeed, try, try again.

When we are doing a test we are focused and don't stop trying.

How can I make this better?'

'Resilience looks like pure concentration and not acknowledging possibly off putting things surrounding the person.  If we fail, we try again.  If we are stuck, we move on until later on and then go back; you don't get marks if you don't do a question.' 

Thinking about how we all have the right to an education and how we can ensure that we, and others, enjoy that right.

'We can support our own rights by respecting others' rights so they respect your rights.  To help others right to learn you shouldn't distract them so they can learn properly without any hindrance.'

'We could encourage people to have a good learning attitude and to take part even if they find it challenging.  We should always take part with everything and never give up/be resilient.'

'Don't disturb anyone when they are learning because it is not fair on them.  It goes against Article 28.  Respect their work and what they say.'

'You can support other children's rights by making sure that you are not talking because if you talk you will distract other children and their right to an education.'