“Squaring up to the Circle” in Secondary School
Fri, Feb 2nd 2007
“Circle Time in the Secondary School” was hailed “Course of the Week” during a TES article on 12th January 2007
Led by Jenny Mosley, and hosted by the Institute of Education, University of London, the course focused on ways of creating a safe environment where secondary children could discuss their opinions and feelings openly.
The day was experiential, giving delegates the chance to try out exercises to explore how pupils might feel, and what the pitfalls of this type of work are. As always on secondary courses, Jenny (and her consultants) demonstrated Circle Time with secondary pupils. The experience of sitting outside a circle of children actively engaging in being kind, wise, funny and thoughtful is always humbling.
The course also looked at ways of measuring the effectiveness of Circle Time by methods like monitoring behaviour and attendance. Jenny emphasised the need for energy and enthusiasm when you run Circle Time and that this type of work my not only benefit personal and social education, but can be used in other subject areas too. The DfES is keen for this type of secondary work to be carried out, allowing young people to express their opinions and learning how to listen to each other.
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