Facing History Approach to Assemblies
Assemblies are a critical part of the school day. Regular assemblies provide an opportunity to bring your students together in order to introduce important issues and share your school’s values and priorities. Utilised correctly, assemblies have the potential to build an inclusive and supportive school community.
At Facing History, our assemblies have been designed to introduce students to significant annual and/or historical events, whilst supporting them to become empathetic and critical thinkers. Each assembly also provides students with opportunities to share their thoughts with each other, helping them to develop oracy and listening skills. The assemblies last for approximately 20 minutes, but can be adapted to suit your specific timing requirements.
Facing History assemblies do not require specialist knowledge and are suitable for use in a KS3-4 or S1-4 assembly or in tutor time/PSHE. Some assemblies have been adapted from existing Facing History lessons and resources available on our website, while others have been newly created.
Assemblies in February
There are 4 assemblies available for use in February.
LGBT+ History Month
What is LGBT+ History Month and why does it matter? The theme for LGBT+ History Month 2025 is ‘Social Change and Activism’ and this is an opportunity for young people to focus on and celebrate the achievement of the LGBT+ figures who have changed society through their activism and work.
This assembly encourages students to reflect on why LGBT+ History Month is important, and introduces young people to members of the LGBTQ+ community who have engaged in a range of social activism and shaped society for the better.
Safer Internet Day
What is Safer Internet Day and why does internet safety matter? Safer Internet Day takes place yearly on 6th February. There is no denying the impact that the internet has had on our lives; for many of us, the internet is not only essential for work, it is also an important socialising tool. But our reliance on the internet can come at a cost. This assembly encourages young people to consider how much time they spend online, what activities they do online, and how safe their behaviour is online. It includes tips and scenarios to help young people reflect on and practise online safety.
Random Acts of Kindness Day
What is Random Acts of Kindness Day and why does it matter? Random Acts of Kindness Day takes place yearly on 17th February. Kindness is a value that is often touted as important, but little is done to consider the impact of kind actions, on ourselves and on others. This assembly guides young people to consider why kindness matters and asks young people to reflect on kind acts they have taken part in or benefited from. It also challenges young people to take action and to perform acts of kindness at school, at home and within their local communities, and gives teachers an opportunity to celebrate their students.
World Day of Social Justice
What is World Day of Social Justice and why does it matter? World Day for Social Justice takes place on 20th February. It was established by the United Nations in 2007 in order to highlight the importance of combating inequality and ensuring everyone around the world has equal access to opportunities. The theme for 2025 is ‘Empowering Inclusion: Bridging Gaps for Social Justice’. This assembly guides young people to consider what social justice is and why it is important and to reflect on how just and equal the UK is. Students also watch a video about a wall at a football match which highlights that being just and fair does not always mean treating everyone equally. The assembly also challenges young people to reflect on what can make their school, the UK and the world more socially just.
Notes for Use
Download the student-facing slides here. While you may need to modify these to meet the needs of your students, please note that Facing History & Ourselves does not endorse any changes that alter the presentation's content or original layout.
