Effective communication can help in developing strong relationships with others and helping to avoid conflict. Effective communication involves more than just the words we say; it involves other skills such as active listening and patience.
At The Friary, we communicate with parents in a variety of ways – parents’ and partnership evenings, ACE meetings, text/e-mail, EduLink and Satchel One, website and social media. When required, there’s the more personal touch of a phone call or meeting. We speak with students in a variety of contexts, from the classroom and the assembly hall to the informal chat in a social space. But we try to listen, too. Debate competitions and student councils, alongside student-led presentations, assemblies and activities, offer structured opportunities for students to have a say. We encourage students to seek any support required from their form tutor, House or key members of staff in school.
Our Trust is pushing the message of developing communication skills in our students – and beyond that staff and families – as a tool of supporting learning and daily interaction.
The Primitas Learning Partnership offers more advice on communication via our Trust’s newsletter, which you can access the newsletter here.
Nathan Smith, Trust Behaviour Lead, said: “There is no doubt that communication can be a significant barrier in life and conflict, barriers and challenges usually tend to have communication gaps as part of their causation. It is by developing communication skills in schools – whether that be speaking, listening, reading or writing – that we can ensure of students grow up into happy and successful adults who can be the role models for future generations of children coming through.”
