Themes
Commitment; perseverance; not giving up; achieving goals.
Summary
This assembly framework for primary schools uses a short video to consider the theme of commitment – it is part of a collection celebrating 'school values'. Pupils will learn how dedication, focus, and perseverance help achieve goals even when faced with challenges.
The video
Rhys:
Commitment means sticking with something and trying your very best, even if it's difficult or takes a long time. It helps you keep going and not give up until you reach your goal. Have you ever had to show commitment to anything?
Child 1:
I go to football training every day, so I show commitment.
Child 2:
I show commitment by trying to do my daily prayers.
Child 3:
I feel committed when I do my homework.
Child 4:
I used commitment to learn all my times tables.
Child 5:
I'm committed in my karate as I train three times a week and I never miss a lesson. This has made me really good at something I really love.
Child 6:
I had commitment when I taught my dog how to do tricks.
Child 7:
I'm committed to getting better at football every day.
Child 8:
I feel committed when I try to learn a new drawing every day.
Child 9:
When I first joined nursery school I had to learn English so I had to have commitment.
Child 10:
I was writing a poem and I thought to myself I need to be committed to this because I want to try and be a writer when I'm older.
Rhys:
Those are some brilliant goals! Showing commitment to the things that you care about will help you to improve, whether that's in drawing, sports, or even your homework. Reaching your goals won't happen overnight; improvement takes time and effort, but with hard work and commitment you can achieve amazing things. Here's how Ishaa learnt the importance of commitment.
Child VO:
I'm Ishaa. And that's gonna be me soon! Granny and I practise every day. I've just got to get past the big tree! Ahh! There are lots of cyclists at the Family Bike Day. It's a bit scary. But I'm determined. Ow… Ouch! I really hurt my arm. I want to go home. I tell Granny I'll never be able to ride my bike and make it past the big tree. She says, "But Ishaa you already did, look!" Granny asks if I want to have another go. Yay! Woohoo! Yeah!
Rhys:
Just like Ishaa, your commitment might take you through lots of highs and lows. Maybe you'll lose a big match, or not score as well on a test as you had hoped. But if you stick with it, maybe you'll have a big win next time! When you show commitment, you get one step closer to your goal. Katie's commitment has taken her all the way to the Paralympic Games!
Katie:
I'm Katie and I'm a Paralympian. I've been playing wheelchair basketball for the last 10 years and recently competed in the Paralympic games. We came 5th overall, so in the next Paralympic games we're hoping to do even better and bring home a medal. I was always a sporty person, but when I was in school I was diagnosed with a gene condition that affected how I played sport. I decided to give wheelchair basketball a go and loved it straight away, so I wanted to see how far I could go with it. You can't get to the Paralympic games overnight, so I had to stay patient and committed to training. Now I'm proud to be a full-time athlete that has competed at two Paralympic games. When I feel like giving up I think all the hard work I've put in so far, and I want to make the most out of it. It helps to have a goal in mind, which for me is to win a medal in the next Paralympics. But that's four years away, so it helps to break it down into smaller goals. In the next year I'll be working towards the European Championships, and the year after that, the World Championships. If you enjoy doing something, it's worth sticking with it. Playing sport has brought me out of my shell, it makes me more confident. It's my job but it's also my passion, and it's all I ever want to talk about! It's made me into who I am and I wouldn't change it for the world.
Rhys:
Wow, now that is where commitment can take you! Commitment is such an important part of working towards a goal, and not giving up when things get really hard is really an achievement in itself. What could you show your commitment to?
Video summary
Presenter Rhys Stephenson defines the theme of commitment and asks children to consider the word’s meaning, followed by a group of children describing what it means to them.
Rhys expands on those ideas and a short animation provides an example with a story about Ishaa, who is finding it difficult to achieve her goal of riding a bike. Rhys then provides some practical advice and introduces Katie Morrow, a wheelchair basketball athlete who works hard to achieve her goals – including competing in the Paralympic Games in Rio and Paris.
Resources
Assembly framework (PDF) document
A suggested framework to download/print
Image: Commitment. image
Click to display the image full-size
Suggested assembly framework
1. As the pupils enter
Play your chosen music – perhaps from this collection of songs to support assemblies and Collective Worship, each with lyrics on screen and backing tracks.
2. Introduction
Engaging question:
What does it mean to be committed to something? Can you think of a time when you stuck with something even though it was difficult?
Set the scene:
Explain that today’s assembly will focus on commitment—why it’s important and how it helps us achieve our goals.
Link to National Curriculum:
Highlight connections to:
- PSHE: Learning about perseverance, responsibility, and teamwork.
- English: Developing speaking and writing skills by reflecting on personal experiences.
- PE: Understanding commitment in physical skill-building and teamwork.
- Maths: Applying commitment to problem-solving and logical thinking.
3. The video
You may choose to watch the video either in its entirety or in sections with pauses to allow you to personalise the assembly as you go.
Play the video and encourage pupils to watch for:
- Moments where the character demonstrates commitment.
- How they handle challenges and distractions.
- The results of staying focused and dedicated.
- What pupils take away from hearing the real-life stories of developing commitment.
Pause the video at 01:06 consider an activity they have shown commitment to. How did they keep going when something may have become difficult.
Resume the video and pause at 02:22 to discuss Ishaa’s story:
- What challenges did Ishaa face in staying committed?
- What strategies did she use to stay focused and dedicated?
- How did her Granny’s commitment help them succeed?
Resume the video until the end and discuss Katie’s story. What did she excel in and how do you think showing commitment helped her to get there?
- What helped Katie to show commitment?
- What skills did Katie show as she trained to be a Paralympian?
- How can we show commitment in school, at home, or in activities we enjoy?
This is an opportunity to introduce someone from your own school community who has a story that demonstrates the value of Commitment.
4. After the video – time to talk
Key questions for reflection:
- What challenges did Ishaa face in staying committed?
- What strategies did she use to stay focused and dedicated?
- How did her Granny’s commitment help them succeed?
- What helped Katie to show commitment?
- What skills did Katie show as she trained to be a Paralympian?
- How can we show commitment in school, at home, or in activities we enjoy?
Interactive activity:
Use a ‘think, pair, share’ format:
- Think: Pupils reflect individually.
- Pair: Discuss their thoughts with a partner.
- Share: Invite pairs to share their insights with the assembly.
5. Opportunity for reflection/prayer
Ask each pupil to think of a "Commitment Goal" for the week, such as:
- Completing a piece of homework or project with care and focus.
- Practising a new skill in PE, music, or art.
- Supporting a classmate by sticking with a shared responsibility.
End the session with a positive phrase that emphasises the value of commitment, such as:
"Commitment means sticking with something even when it’s tough. When we stay dedicated, we can achieve amazing things together!"
More assemblies based around primary school values
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Courage. video
An assembly and short video exploring the theme of courage. Pupils will reflect on what it means to face fears, overcome challenges, and support others in their moments of bravery.
Compassion. video
An assembly framework and short video exploring the theme of compassion. Pupils will reflect on the importance of kindness, understanding, and supporting others.
Teamwork. video
An assembly framework and short film exploring the theme of teamwork. Pupils will reflect on the importance of working collaboratively to achieve shared goals and understand the value of everyone’s contribution to the group.
Friendship. video
An assembly framework and short film exploring the theme of friendship. Pupils will reflect on the qualities of good friends, how to build strong relationships, and how friendships can help us navigate challenges.
