You can find the full evaluation report here www.empathylab.uk


We found that the work had most impact when it was clearly embedded within school plans, and championed by the Senior Leadership Team. Teachers’ understanding of the educational importance of empathy rose from 68% to 99%.


We found evidence of impact in five areas:


Literacy: 100% of participating teachers reported a positive impact on children’s reading frequency and range; enjoyment of reading and vocabulary. ‘If you learn about empathy and read books that include it you get more from your reading. When I feel empathy in stories, I slow down; sometimes I stop and think so much more’. (Year 5 boy, Moorlands Primary Academy).


“This book made me feel protective of Bobbie, as nearly everyone is horrid to her while their father is gone”


Empathy and wellbeing: teachers reported improvements in all our target empathy skills: ‘As a result of feelings, character and empathy work she can now recognise and express her own feelings and those of others. She is calmer in the playground and happier’. (Teacher St Hilda’s).


Family involvement: Headteachers report higher-than-usual levels of parental engagement. Parents are motivated by the idea of a ‘double win’ – that they can help their child simultaneously develop empathy and literacy.


Social action: EmpathyLab schools have been surprised by how fired up children are becoming about putting empathy into action, at school and in the community.


What now?


In 2017 we will work with leadership teams in 15 pioneer primary schools, deepening our testing and evidence base. We also hope to develop an ‘Empathy-Intro’ package for other schools.


We will train 30 authors, as the start of our author Empathy Army; work with an increasing number of publishers and start to involve libraries. We will pilot a brand new Empathy Day on 13 June – do join in by following @EmpathyLabUK and Tweeting your favourite empathy-boosting books on #EmpathyDay.


It’s early days for EmpathyLab, but we are encouraged and excited by the results of this pioneer year. The findings have strengthened our belief in the power of empathy to create calmer, kinder and more tolerant children and communities. And in the power of books to build bridges between us – bridges, not walls.


Books mentioned Unselfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About Me World, Michele Borba, Simon and Schuster, 978-1-5011-1003-0, £20.00 Way Home, Libby Hathorn illus Gregory Rogers, Andersen Press, 978-1-8427-0232-1, £6.99 pbk Matilda, Roald Dahl illus Quentin Blake, Puffin, 978-0-1413-6546-6, £6.99 pbk


Sarah Mears is Library Service Manager, Essex Libraries, a member of the Society of Chief Librarians’ National Executive, and was recently Chair of ASCEL (The Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians).


Miranda McKearney is a social justice entrepreneur who has spent 35 years turning kitchen table ideas into nationwide campaigns, culminating in founding The Reading Agency, a national charity, in 2002.


Books for Keeps No.223 March 2017 13


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