The Friendship Bench

If you ask me what makes St George’s so special I’d just as likely point you in the direction of the Friendship Bench on the top playground and invite you to take a seat.  Within minutes I would expect to see you engrossed in conversation with a senior pupil or walking off with a new found friend to score a goal for Manchester United!.

You would be forgiven for thinking the Friendship Bench an initiative from the staffroom or a bright idea from the senior management team to broker good relations at moments of high excitement in the hurly-burly of playground life.  Instead, the idea originated wholly from the children via our School Council. 

The Friendship Bench provides a place where comfort can be found if you find yourself feeling a little down and in need of company.  Just sit for a while and very quickly a senior pupil will enquire whether everything is well.  If you’re merely resting your legs they’ll be on their way but if you need a friend then they are there to help. 

I do not know which is more impressive, the fact that children so young can show such awareness and consideration as to come up with the idea or that they have the sensitivity and discipline to operate it on a daily basis.  I do know that this is just one example of the caring attitude which makes working at St George’s so very special.