Kirklees Together

We’re proud to introduce Oak Primary School in Huddersfield, the latest recipient of our Democracy Friendly Schools award.

Headteacher, Oak CE Primary School:

“Our school is immensely proud to have been awarded the Democracy Friendly Schools Award, as it reflects our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion, respect, and active participation.”

This award recognises the creativity of teachers in supporting children to explore their local area while teaching them about local democracy. Using resources from our Democracy Friendly Schools activity pack as a guide, they’ve encouraged children to express their feelings about living in Crosland Moor, share their ideas for improvements, and make a difference in their community.

Exploring the Local Area

By creating engaging Geography lessons, teachers at Oak Primary have strengthened children’s understanding of their community. Getting out of the classroom to visit a local park while discussing what makes them proud to live in Crosland Moor is just one way the children have been able to explore and express themselves. Their other activities include:

• Walks around the local community, focusing on road safety. Children have attended safety workshops at the local fire station and listened to guest speakers from Kirklees Council and our emergency services.
• Making connections with a local historian to learn about the history of Beaumont Park, a key space within the community.
• A visit from Spring Grove Junior, Infant and Nursery School. Children have exchanged letters with each other, creating connections with others who share the same space.
• Asking relatives about the past, which they then wrote down and shared in school. Children were able to share stories and recognise that as a community, they have lots in common while celebrating differences.
• Children from different year groups worked with a local artist on an intergenerational art project.

Having a voice in school and beyond

Teachers at Oak Primary School are working hard to help children learn about democracy and active citizenship, and to establish pupil voice through the School Council. The School Council is a well-established platform for children to share their views about life in school and their community. There’s a whole-school approach to electing representatives from each class that includes candidates being interviewed by their peers. Representatives play an active part in gathering the voices of their peers.

Connecting with Councillors

At Oak Primary School, children regularly meet with local councillors during School Council meetings where they discuss community issues and suggest improvements. This involvement is helping them learn more about what councillors do and to make a positive impact in their community.

Cllr Jo Lawson, Crosland Moor and Netherton:

“One of the best bits about being a Councillor is going into schools and talking with pupils of all ages and getting their views on a whole range of things that are important to them.  We can all learn a lot from the insights of our younger residents.”

Cllr Alex Vickers, Crosland Moor and Netherton:

“I have worked with children and young people all my life and I love going into schools as a councillor. I enjoy talking to the children and listening to their thoughts. Their honesty is refreshing, and they are always so proud of their achievements. We can learn a lot from them.”

Connecting with the Community

Children enjoy a range of activities that help them connect with others in their community. The whole school is regularly involved in writing letters to people who are socially isolated and lonely through the Give…A Few Words charity. They send letters regularly, which leaves children feeling happy that they have made a positive contribution to the well-being of others.

Oak CE Primary School pupil

“I feel good about drawing and writing to the lonely people. I hope I’ll make them happy.”

They regularly visit a local care facility for people with extra needs. The children have fun with residents reading, playing games, and talking about their favourite things. They particularly enjoyed visiting at Christmas, where they sang “Merry Christmas” using sign language that they learned especially. Children understand that some members of their community need extra help. They support a local charity by providing food as often as they can.

Oak CE Primary School pupil:

“Delivering the food made me proud of myself as I know that other people will not be hungry”

Meet the Mayor

School councillors had the privilege of meeting the Mayor of Kirklees at a special event at Dewsbury Town Hall. The children were filled with curiosity and asked many questions about the role and function of our Mayor, sharing their experience with the rest of the school on their return. They also invited the Mayor to deliver a democracy-focused collective worship for the whole school.

Hints and Tips for Other Schools…

Teacher, Oak CE Primary School

“Having children involved is definitely giving them more confidence. Talking about democracy and getting in touch with local councillors is making children proud of the area they live and helping them recognise their own community conscience and responsibilities.”

Headteacher, Oak CE Primary School:

“Our school is immensely proud to have been awarded the Democracy Friendly School’s Award, as it reflects our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion, respect, and active participation.

This recognition from Kirklees highlights the dedication of our staff and pupils to embracing democratic values such as fairness, equality, and collaboration. It celebrates the ways we empower our students to have a voice, take responsibility, and make a difference. This award inspires us to continue nurturing a vibrant, respectful environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute.

We are proud to be one of the most diverse schools in Kirklees, we have children from over the world with over 30 languages spoken. We have worked hard to help all of our children learn about local democracy and take part in activities that strengthen their sense of identity and belonging. I would encourage all schools to take part in the Democracy Friendly Schools programme.”

Get involved – sign up

Expressions of interest are welcome from schools anywhere in Kirklees who would like to join the Democracy Friendly programme, at any time. Have a look at these pages to find out more about the free programme, see what you can expect when you sign up, and learn more about the benefits for children, young people and schools.

For more information visit the We Are Democracy Friendly webpage. To learn more about Oak CE Primary Schools’ Democracy Friendly journey, read their blog post.