Each school year, we place a new focus on our assemblies (school meetings: all children and teachers gather several times a month). In the past, these have included cultural festivals and the 17 SDGs; now we focus on raising awareness of environmental and democratic issues. In the 2024–2025 school year, each class took responsibility for researching, preparing and conducting a school-wide assembly on a sustainability topic. In the 2025–2026 school year, it was time for democracy topics.
Through these assemblies, students not only deepened their own knowledge, but also encouraged their classmates to think critically about how everyday decisions affect our planet, what democracy means, and how we can live democracy. The process promoted teamwork, creativity, and public speaking, while strengthening our shared sense of responsibility for the environment and democratic participation.
The assemblies addressed a variety of topics, including:
Climate change and its effects
Sustainable and renewable energy sources
Local shopping – the journey of food and its impact on the environment
Reducing your carbon footprint
The benefits of trees and forests
The role of bees and pollinators
Water conservation
Reducing plastic waste
The importance of recycling
Earth Day celebrations
The dangers of rubbish
Protection of endangered animals
Disinformation / fake news
Freedom of the press
Freedom of expression
Right to demonstrate
Right to vote
Democratic institutions
Years 1 and 2 read books on the subject of democracy, e.g. ‘Democracy for dinosaurs’, ‘If I were prime minister’ and other titles.
These assemblies have helped create a stronger culture of environmental awareness across our school community, ensuring that sustainability remains at the heart of our learning and daily actions.
