October 2023

The compassionate and connected school

Compassion is a motivation of care. It involves warmth and kindness but also courage, strength and wisdom. A compassionate school is one in which the members of the school community thrive through connection, tolerance and a sense of belonging, each taking responsibility for both themselves and the individuals around them. This talk will introduce compassion and explain the psychology behind it, emphasising why compassion is vital in an educational setting. Practical tips for creating a compassionate school culture will be based on work done at Impington Village College, nr Cambridge, including ideas for staff wellbeing, leadership teams and school policies and systems.