Oriel Academy students mark Anti-Bullying Week with odd socks & friendship bracelets to remind them to celebrate each others differences

Students at a Hanworth primary started the week wearing odd socks…not because of a laundry mishap but to mark the start of Anti-Bullying Week and a focus on the importance of friendship.

Reception pupils at Oriel Academy West London made friendship bracelets for each of their classmates and also listened to a talk from a community police officer.

PC Matt Taylor held an assembly in which he highlighted the ways in which to prevent and respond to bullying. 

Zoe Martinez, Reception Teacher at Oriel, which is based in Hounslow Road, told the Hounslow Herald: “This year Oriel’s Friendship Week has coincided with Odd Socks Day and the start of Anti-Bullying Week.

“The aim is to bring awareness to diversity and all of our unique differences.

“On this day (Mon), PC Matt Taylor came in to give talks on anti-bullying to each year group too. Later in the week, Reception students made lovely friendship bracelets for each of their classmates.

“Friendship and acceptance are at the heart of Oriel Academy. We pride ourselves on being a culturally diverse school which represents the community that we serve. Individuality is encouraged and we are inspired by every student’s uniqueness. At Oriel, we celebrate cultures around the world and our ‘language of the month’ event promotes diversity and inclusivity.”

Oriel currently has places available in Reception and Nursery for the academic year that begins September 2023. For more information, email: office@oriel-aspirations.org or call 0208 894 9395.

The school has retained its ‘Good’ Ofsted rating following its first inspection since the pandemic began.

Inspectors noted Oriel is ‘happy and welcoming. Pupils enjoy their learning and try their best. They feel motivated by the encouragement they get from staff. Children get off to a good start in the early years. They do well in the nurturing and stimulating environment.”

The Ofsted report, published earlier this year, reveals pupils state that bullying does not happen at Oriel as they know that staff will resolve any friendship issues or unkind behaviour. 

The inspector also noted ‘leaders have ensured the school has continued to improve. They have introduced a successful mathematics programme and reading is at the heart of the curriculum. This starts in the early years. Leaders want the curriculum to be memorable and they use educational visits to bring learning to life.’

Anti-Bullying Week (ABW) 2022 is coordinated in England and Wales by the Anti-Bullying Alliance. This year’s theme was Reach Out. Odd Socks Day always marks the start of ABW and is used to symbolise uniqueness.