Deep Experience for Social Justice – Activities

This collection of activity templates is designed to complement the Deep Experience for Social Justice pamphlet. Aimed at school leaders, teachers, and partners, these practical activities facilitate reflection on how the four broad reasons for educating people can impact social justice ambitions within their schools or organisations.

The first activity encourages teams to contemplate how each reason for educating people may either aid or hinder the pursuit of social justice, as well as how this manifests in their school context. Participants are prompted to summarise their curriculum intent and compare their interpretations with colleagues to foster clarity and stimulate discussions.

The second activity prompts educators to identify the driving forces behind curriculum decision-making. Participants use provided cards to prioritise factors at the department level, creating a diamond-nine representation.

The third activity focuses on delivering the curriculum vision. Working as a team, participants reflect on how different aspects of their school, like pedagogy and evaluation, align with their curriculum intent.

The final activity centres around assessing the curriculum’s impact on social justice goals. Schools are encouraged to move away from frequent data drops and focus on meaningful information collection. Participants examine their statement of intent, identify the necessary data to assess its achievement, and determine how to measure success.

These activity templates empower educational stakeholders to engage in insightful conversations, critically analyse their approaches, and progress toward fostering deep social justice through education. By promoting reflection and intentional decision-making, this resource supports schools in their endeavour to create a more equitable and just learning environment for all students.

“Deep Experience for Social Justice” is a publication by SSAT (Schools, Students, and Teachers Network), an organisation dedicated to improving outcomes for young people. With a focus on school improvement and innovation, SSAT collaborates with schools and academies in the UK and internationally.