Schools

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Activities

Workshops for secondary schools Years 9-13, compatible with RS, Citizenship, History, Geography and more.

 

 

Solutions not Sides (SNS) primarily engages students at the opinion-forming stage (14-18 years of age), ensuring that the students engage with the subject of conflict within the safe space of a structured educational environment.

This is carried out through an innovative programme of training and workshops with young people in secondary schools that are led by our experienced and highly trained facilitators, which include: 

  • Classroom-based educational workshops for Year 9 to Year 13, split up into 2 interactive sessions including live Palestinian & Israeli speakers and SNS-made films.
  • The Olive Branch Award - our award scheme that supports and recognises the achievements of schools across 4 key skill areas: active listening, empathy, critical thinking, and social and emotional learning.
  • 2 Annual Student Leadership Programmes - Model United Nations and Bridge Builders - for young people enrolled in studies between Year 13 and their second year of university, or on a gap year.
  • Training sessions for their teachers, council staff and other community leaders

The educational workshops for Year 9 to Year 13 are the central activity of the programme and include activities on general conflict under-standing, critical-thinking skills and conflict resolution with the application of these principles to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Students learn the difference between positions and interests and how they can apply this understanding to explore meaningful solutions. The session also gives some background from both sides’ points of view as to the issues at the heart of the conflict, both past and present, and features real-life experiences and aspirations of people who are living through it, told in person by Israeli and Palestinian speakers from the region. Time is given for Q&A so that students have the unique opportunity to learn more from these people who are living in the region and are involved in working for conflict resolution. The skills and experiences gained through participation in the sessions are transferable to other conflict situations, both in personal and political contexts.

If your school has already done an SNS session, you can give your students the opportunity to develop a project or presentation on a topic with specialist resources developed by SNS. There are seven topics to choose from where older students can work individually or in groups, in lesson or at home, to enrich their understanding of the more complex aspects of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Contact us for details on how to do this.

This programme is fully supervised by SNS DBS-checked staff. Contact our Schools Programme Coordinator Tasha to find out more details here.

Click here for more information on how the sessions are relevant for curriculums in England & Wales and Click Here for applicability to the Ofsted Framework.

School sessions format

  • PART 1: EXPLORATION - Learning about historical narratives (can be done as homework or as a teacher-led preparatory session); 1 hour. Session on the historical narratives using our film 'The Beginner's Guide to Israel-Palestine'. All materials and guidance provided by SNS.
  • PART 2: EMPATHY & EMPOWERMENT - Live classroom workshop with Israeli and Palestinian speakers and an SNS facilitator; 1.5-2 hours. Workshop run by an SNS facilitator and the Palestinian and Israeli speakers in-person (or online if outside our tour areas). The speakers share their personal stories of growing up in the region, how it affected them, and also what they do now to change the situation for the better. This part is focused on answering student questions and having a solutions-focused discussion around pros and cons of one and two state solution, plus other ideas for solutions.
  • Workshop Maximum number of students: 30
  • OLIVE BRANCH AWARD - The Olive Branch Award supports schools to become safe and empowered spaces to talk and learn about tough issues through focusing on four key skills; active listening, empathy, critical thinking, and social and emotional learning. Schools can join and collect leaves for their Olive Branch by participating in SNS sessions and exclusive new programmes for teachers and students. Teachers can sign up their school at any point - just get in touch.

Curriculum & skills

Solutions Not Sides sessions are uniquely designed to fulfil the transferable skills requirements of Pearson and other exam boards. 

Every aspect of our sessions ensures that students develop in the following areas:

Cognitive skills:

  • Problem solving
  • Systems thinking
  • Critical thinking
  • ICT literacy

Interpersonal skills:

  • Communication
  • Relationship-building
  • Collaborative problem solving

Intrapersonal skills:

  • Adaptability
  • Self-management and self-development

Please click here to book a workshop for the 2024-25 academic year.

Curriculum

  • Click here for more information on how the sessions are relevant for curriculums in England & Wales.

 

  • Click here for applicability to the Ofsted Framework

 

 

 

  • If you are a Church of England school, you can find out how our workshops help to achieve SIAMS targets here.

Further Opportunities

The Forum of Discussion of Israel and Palestine

FODIP’s remit is to host and facilitate sensitively inter faith dialogue on the Israeli Palestinian conflict, within and between Jews, Christians, Muslims and others in the UK, and to promote co-operation through dialogue.

Stand Up! Education Against Discrimination

Stand Up! is an anti-discrimination interfaith project, led by Maccabi GB and CST, which brings Muslim and Jewish educators into the classroom to facilitate informal conversations with young people. By creating a safe space and through interactive workshops, students are empowered to learn about and act against racism and discrimination with a specific focus on antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate.

If your students are finishing school this year, we have other opportunities are available to them:

Student Leadership Programme

Internships & Volunteering

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