Unconditional Compassion

This is a brief summary of this remarkable school.  We have written a 6,000 word chapter to be published in due course.

Many children here struggle socially, personally, cognitively or developmentally but not only are they all engaged in learning, they are doing this in a culture of love and acceptance that permeates everything that happens across the school. When they first arrive, most children are functioning below expected levels, by the time they are in Year 6 educational outcomes are either at or just above the national average. What is happening here is extraordinary – and a million miles away from zero-tolerance!

Background Information

Easington Colliery Primary School is large – a three-form entry with a nursery and 521registered pupils. Over 25% are on the special educational needs register and number on a child protection plan, a child in need plan or who are looked after by the local authority. Nearly 45% of pupils receive pupil premium but many more just miss out because, although their parents are working, they are on zero-hours contracts and wages are minimal. Crime is high and housing conditions very poor.  Factors often associated with hardship are evident with addictions, criminality and family violence not uncommon. Consequently, a significant number of children have adverse childhood experiences and their behaviour can reflect this.

We have a lot of challenges…It would be much easier if we did things in a different way, but we wouldn’t get the joy and we wouldn’t get the results that we get.(Rachel, Headteacher)

Easington Colliery Primary School is beyond extraordinary. It is a beacon of hope for everyone who refutes the view that some kids ‘will just never learn’ or don’t ‘deserve’ the education they are offered. Not only do children do exceptionally well here, so do staff. Despite all the challenges they face they believe that they are privileged to change young lives for the better. This belief is powered by the senior leadership who have developed a culture of unconditional compassion, not just for those children whose lives are bounded by trauma and complex challenges but for the adults who work with them and the families who often do their best in circumstances that would defeat many of us. We will conclude this chapter with the words of the teachers, children and families.

For all of the things they’ve got going on outside of school, they just love being here, and they want to do the absolute best for you (teacher)

At ECPS children have the opportunity to thrive and make tremendous progress regardless of their background…Every day is different and the welcoming, warm, caring nature of the school make it a brilliant place to work and children to flourish (teacher)

This school is amazing – we have lots of opportunities other people don’t get (pupil)

It’s a really busy place, but in a good way…there’s lots of fun activities (pupil)

It’s not often that teachers of such calibre, integrity and talent are concentrated in one school. But that is absolutely the case and, as such, they deserve to be celebrated. (parent)

Read more about the Love of Learning Project here.

The other schools we have visited for the project so far are: