1. Music speaks
You needn’t only use music at the start of a school assembly. It can form an integral part of each session. Children will listen and respond to a wide variety of musical genres. Can pupils articulate their emotional response to a piece, or explain how the music links to the assembly theme?
2. Kids’ takeover
Getting the children up and involving them whenever you can is essential to holding their attention, beyond simply asking them to answer questions. They could perhaps help tell a story, hold props, have some input into deciding school assembly themes across the term or even take the lead themselves.
3. Picture perfect
Picture books can be a great way of breaking down barriers when dealing with a wide age range. Younger children will be interested in the images, whilst older children can practise inference and explain how the moral of a given story relates to our everyday lives.
4. Keep it short
Build on key school assembly themes across a term or even year, so there’s plenty of time to deepen children’s understanding over a longer period. Keep your assemblies fresh by making them short, snappy and memorable. The children will be keener to participate and more likely to engage.
5. Whole school assembly
A gathering of the whole school is the perfect opportunity to highlight schoolwide initiatives. Use assemblies as a launchpad for school improvement projects and take the children on the journey with you. Giving something like times tables a regular spotlight might be just what you need to focus children’s minds.
6. Speak passionately
Don’t shy away from the personal. Children can tell when you’re speaking from the heart, and it makes them sit up and listen. Using stories and examples that are important to you will lend your presentation effortless enthusiasm, while also providing an important insight into your core values.
7. Video variety
Using video clips is a great way to keep things fresh. There are a huge number of short films online that can provide ideal starting points for assembly discussions. There’s lots at the Literacy Shed and TED Talks archive to help you get started. If you have the resources, you could make your own to support particular themes.
8. Change it up
Ask different members of your school community to contribute – children, teachers, governors and support staff may all have something to share with the school in their own unique way. Not everyone feels confident speaking publicly, but some will. Assemblies are a great way of getting people involved.
9. Keep it real
In a rapidly changing world, there will always be new topics to cover in your assemblies. Leave space in your planning to respond to national and international events or new trends in your school. The children will benefit from the opportunity to explore these as a group.
10. Stay dynamic
One size doesn’t fit all. and you might feel that you have a ‘tried and tested’ approach to your assembly, but it’s always worth experimenting from time to time. Ask other members of staff to sit in on some pupil conferencing afterwards, so you can keep track of what’s working for the pupils in your setting.
Lucy Starbuck Braidley is the producer and host of Comic Boom – The Comics in Education Podcast and is senior programme manager for Reading for Enjoyment at The National Literacy Trust.
