I’m delighted to welcome our latest guest writer Ellie Wallbank from education recruitment specialists, Spencer Clarke Group. In this blog she shares insight into how schools encourage kindness in students and what they can do to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day.
Marked annually on February 17th, Random Acts of Kindness Day, celebrates love, positivity and thoughtful actions within all communities. It is a chance to promote and encourage intentional acts of kindness of all sizes. From making a coffee for a friend, to leaving a colleague a positive note, even small acts of kindness can make a big difference to a person’s day.
For schools, Random Acts of Kindness Day provides an opportunity to celebrate kindness amongst their students and reflect on what makes their school community a thoughtful and respectful environment.
How schools are promoting and encouraging kindness in students
There are a variety of ways in which schools promote kindness amongst their students and the wider school community, including:
- Recognising and rewarding kind students: Rewarding hard work, a positive attitude and kindness to others is important in all mainstream and SEND schools. Recognising and rewarding those who go above and beyond to help their peers reinforces expected behaviours and promotes the importance of kindness. Whilst thoughtfulness towards others should be encouraged regardless of reward, schools cement their ethos by celebrating pupils who reflect this in their day to day actions.
- Creating buddy initiatives: Buddy initiatives are an effective way to support kindness between students who might not normally interact. Often, older students are ‘buddied’ with a younger peer and handed the responsibility of looking out for them during the school day. Whether this be a year 11 student helping a year 7 navigate their new school, or a year 6 supporting a younger pupil, buddy initiatives promote compassion, trust and kindness throughout the school community.
- Adapting the school environment: Along with implementing buddy schemes, many schools have adapted their physical environment to encourage acts of kindness. For example, displays are used to highlight kind actions and showcase thoughtful gestures carried out by students. ‘Buddy benches’ are used if a child is looking for someone to spend time with during a break time. Sitting on a bench signals to others that somebody might be feeling lonely and therefore encourages students to look out for their peers. Inclusive seating arrangements are used to encourage collaboration amongst students with group tables and circular rugs promoting positive interaction in the classroom.
- Team events: Many schools split their students into teams or ‘houses’ to compete in sporting, literary, music, or any other kind of event. Doing so is an effective way to promote teamwork and collaboration between students, with them working towards a common goal and celebrating others’ success. Weaving team allegiance into the fabric of a school community not only gives students a sense of belonging, but teaches them how to handle losses graciously. Team events teach kindness by showing students that not everyone has the same skills, but when people join together and respect each other’s strengths, they can be very powerful.
- Encouraging community partnerships: There are many benefits to students engaging in community initiatives. Whether it’s work experience at a local company, volunteering at a local food bank or taking part in a litter pick, supporting the community is a great way to promote compassion and teach students that kindness comes in all shapes and sizes. When students witness how their kindness can help others, they are encouraged to make a positive difference in any way they can.
How schools can celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day with their students
There are many fun and creative ways for schools to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day and activities do not need to break the bank. Small gestures and personalised acts of kindness can often mean much more than grand displays.
- Schools may choose to celebrate as a whole community, rolling out initiatives such as a school kindness pledge, or with individual age groups.
- Primary students might enjoy an art lesson creating cards for their peers with kind messages inside, whilst secondary students could benefit from learning about historical figures who exuded kindness, such as Florence Nightingale.
- Students should also be encouraged to come up with their own act of kindness to carry out on Random Acts of Kindness day. They can then reflect on what they learnt from their act and how they can implement this into their day to day at school.
Overall, it’s clear that schools are going above and beyond to encourage kindness within their community and make the school environment a happy place for all. This makes a positive difference to students, families and teachers alike and is wonderful to see ahead of Random Acts of Kindness Day!
Spencer Clarke Group is an award winning education and SEND recruitment agency based in the heart of the North West. They work alongside mainstream and SEND schools nationwide to supply teaching and support staff.
Let's work together
Bring kindness to life with workshops, talks and other support that make a real difference — boosting wellbeing, improving performance and creating lasting positive change.
Find out how