Pupils at Monksdown Primary School are embracing social action to raise their voices and lead meaningful change. School social action lead, Ann-Marie Ferrigan, explains how SuperKind supports their inclusive, rights-respecting ethos, empowering pupils to champion causes from knife crime awareness to global sustainability. The school’s diverse community is proving that every child—regardless of background—can be a changemaker. Listen to coverage of their social action work on BBC Radio Merseyside:
Tell us a bit about Monksdown Primary School, your vision/values and the challenges that you face.
At Monksdown Primary School, our mission “Where Children Come First” is more than a motto; it’s the foundation of everything we do. We are a vibrant, inclusive community committed to empowering every child and family to aspire, find their voice, and make a meaningful impact both locally and globally.
Located in a significantly disadvantaged area of Liverpool, we serve a community where many families face economic hardship and often struggle to have their voices heard. At Monksdown, we actively champion our families and ensure they are seen, valued, and supported. Our school acts as a safe, nurturing hub, one where barriers are broken and aspirations are raised.
We are proud to support a richly diverse pupil population. Currently:
Our inclusive ethos is nationally recognised. We hold the Inclusion Quality Mark and the UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools Gold Award, reflecting our unwavering commitment to equity, belonging, and children’s rights. Every child is known, supported, and celebrated.
We nurture our pupils to grow into confident, compassionate, and independent individuals. They live out our core values; Respectful, Resourceful, Resilient, and Responsible, in their learning and daily interactions. Ofsted echoed this in their latest report, noting that pupils understand and embody these values, creating a harmonious, supportive school environment.
What drew you to use SuperKind?
We heard about SuperKind through schools that were getting involved in social action, we often saw SuperKind tagged into social media posts, we took a look and felt that it was perfect match for our school. We felt it would be perfect because it aligns powerfully with our mission “Where Children Come First” and reinforces the core values we live by: Respectful, Resourceful, Resilient, and Responsible.
Exploring SuperKind further and researching the work completed seemed to be a natural extension of what we do.
Monksdown serves a community where many families face disadvantage and often struggle to be heard. SuperKind offers a structured, meaningful platform for our children to express themselves, champion causes they care about, and feel empowered to make a difference locally and globally.
We already nurture compassion, independence, and a strong sense of social justice in our pupils. We work with a number of organisations and on a range of campaigns (CitizensUK, NEU, GSA etc) SuperKind reinforces this by encouraging pupils to take action, raise awareness, and engage with real-world issues, turning empathy into action.
SuperKind gives children and adults the tools and confidence to lead change. This is especially valuable at Monksdown, where many pupils may not traditionally see themselves as leaders. The programme helps unlock their potential, regardless of background, need, or language.
As a UNICEF Rights Respecting School (Gold Award), Monksdown is committed to children’s rights and global citizenship. SuperKind directly supports this by helping pupils understand their rights and responsibilities and act on them in meaningful ways.
SuperKind allows us to seamlessly embed social action into our curriculum and wider school life, helping pupils connect their learning to the wider world and develop skills for life like empathy, critical thinking, and teamwork.
SuperKind empowers Monksdown staff and children to be the confident, compassionate changemakers we know they can be. It strengthens our culture of inclusion, action, and pupil leadership, making it the perfect fit for our school.
SuperKind empowers Monksdown staff and children to be the confident, compassionate changemakers we know they can be. It strengthens our culture of inclusion, action, and pupil leadership..."
What are some examples of social actions that the Award has led you to take?
We are proud to be at the forefront of meaningful social action. Our pupils are empowered to lead change on issues that matter to them and their community.
Each of these pupil-led actions reflects Monksdown’s belief that children, no matter their background, can be powerful agents of change. Their compassion, resilience, and drive continue to inspire our whole school community.
What benefits have you seen to the students since starting your journey with SuperKind?
The impact of engaging in social action projects and participating in the SuperKind programme at Monksdown Primary School has been deeply transformational for our pupils—socially, emotionally, and academically. Here are the key benefits our children have experienced:
Increased Confidence and Self-Belief
By leading campaigns, speaking at high-profile events, and contributing to real-world change, pupils have developed a strong sense of agency. Many who previously lacked confidence have found their voice, stepped into leadership roles, and now see themselves as capable of influencing their school, community, and even national policy.
Stronger Pupil Voice and Advocacy Skills
Children have learned how to express their views clearly, respectfully, and with purpose. Through letter writing, public speaking (e.g. at Downing Street and the Citizens UK Assembly), and digital broadcasts like Earth Day Live, they’ve developed the ability to advocate for themselves and others, using facts, empathy, and real-world context.
Enhanced Teamwork and Social Skills
SuperKind’s collaborative approach, combined with Monksdown’s social action culture, has built pupils’ cooperation, empathy, and active listening. Whether organising fundraising events or presenting on mental health, children have worked across year groups, partnered with community leaders, and supported one another to achieve shared goals.
Resilience and Problem-Solving
Tackling real-world challenges like homelessness, food insecurity, or climate change has helped children develop critical thinking, determination, and emotional resilience. They’ve faced difficult topics with maturity and compassion, learning how to take constructive action even when problems seem overwhelming.
Global Awareness and Ethical Thinking
Through their involvement in campaigns linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Global School Alliance, pupils have deepened their understanding of global issues and children’s rights. They now think beyond their own experiences and see themselves as global citizens with responsibility and empathy for others.
Improved Wellbeing and Sense of Purpose
Being part of something meaningful has given children a greater sense of belonging, purpose, and hope. Taking action on issues that affect their lives like mental health, safety, and inclusion has made them feel seen, heard, and empowered, which contributes positively to self-esteem and emotional wellbeing.
