QET Pupils Unite for Social Action Conference Celebrating Character and Community
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Children from across the Quantock Education Trust (QET) came together last Friday for an inspiring Social Action Conference, with a strong focus on the importance of character in schools and in shaping the wider world.
Hosted at ARK@Egwood and organised by Gemma Coward of St Bartholomew’s C of E Primary School in Crewkerne, the event brought together pupils from six primary schools alongside young leaders from Haygrove School and Sexey’s School.
At the heart of the day was QET’s shared commitment to developing character through its core values of UCARE – Uniqueness, Community, Aspiration, Respect and Equity. Pupils explored what these values look like in action, both in their own schools and when working together with others.
Through a range of collaborative and creative activities, pupils built new friendships and reflected on what it means to belong. Discussions and group work encouraged them to think about how they act towards others and the role they can play in creating a more inclusive, supportive community.
A highlight of the day was seeing pupils from different schools work side by side, supported by secondary school young leaders who acted as excellent role models throughout. Their leadership helped create a welcoming environment where everyone felt valued and included.
The conference concluded with pupils coming together to create a shared statement of intent, capturing their collective commitment to character and community:
“In the QET, we come together to create a community that is friendly and inclusive. We celebrate our differences and aspire to do our best to inspire each other to thrive and achieve.”
Gemma Coward, who organised the event, said:
“It was incredibly powerful to see pupils from across the Trust connecting so quickly and thoughtfully. The focus on character really shone through in the way they supported one another, listened carefully and worked together to create something meaningful. Thank you to Reverend CJ, Lynn Cutler from GLADE, Louise Jenkins from the Diocese of Bath and Wells, and staff from across all our schools for their support in making the day such a success.”
Chrysta Garnett, CEO of the Quantock Education Trust, added:
“Developing strong character sits at the heart of everything we do as a Trust. Seeing our pupils live out our UCARE values so naturally – showing respect, celebrating individuality and supporting one another – was a real highlight. Events like this also help pupils understand what it means to be part of the wider QET family of schools, learning from and alongside others beyond their own setting. This is exactly what we want for all our young people.”
The Social Action Conference reflects QET’s ongoing commitment to nurturing not only academic success, but also the character, confidence and compassion that enable young people to make a positive difference in the world.