Circles, PSHE and citizenship : assessing the value of circle time in secondary school

The circle time teaching strategy is used extensively and successfully in primary schools, but secondary settings often find it difficult to implement. In this book, the authors advise on how a circle time programme can be developed in secondary schools, involving both staff and students.

Drawing on their experience of using circle time to deliver the PSHE and Citizenship curricula, they present a framework that that can be followed or adapted by other secondary schools.

The development includes: o consultation with students o choosing the topics for the programme of study o lesson plans written in the circle format o recommendation for links within the wider school community and other agencies. A CD-rom is included, providing lesson plans, circle time games, and advice on inclusion, group work and strategies and approaches suitable for the secondary setting. The book also shows how the programme can be evaluated, taking into account the perspectives of the trainer, the staff and the students.

Any secondary school practitioner looking to implement a circle time programme in their school will find this a useful and practical resource.Marilyn Tew is a freelance consultant, trainer and facilitator, specialising in the relevance of group work, emotional literacy and Circle Time to PSHE. Hilary Potter is currently researching in the field of emotional literacy and has extensive experience of teaching and training across a range of educational settings. Mary Read has taught for over 25 years as well as writing and working as a trainer nationally.