What happens when thousands of schools pause at the same moment to explore one big question? That is the magic of a Picture News live assembly! Our weekly resources help children understand what is happening in the world, but our live assemblies take this one step further. They bring pupils and teachers together from classrooms across the country—and sometimes connect them with guests on the other side of the world. From celebrating our differences and supporting children’s wellbeing to exploring the Amazon rainforest and broadcasting live from Antarctica, every assembly is designed to make the wider world feel relevant, accessible and exciting for children. More than watching a screen A Picture News live assembly is never intended to be something children simply sit and watch. We ask questions, invite pupils to reflect and encourage schools to share their ideas. Children hear from people with remarkable experiences, learn about lives that may be very different from their own and discover that their voices matter. For a short time, classrooms across the country become part of one enormous shared conversation. That sense of connection is incredibly powerful. A child may be sitting in a small rural school, a busy city classroom or a specialist setting, but they know that thousands of other children are considering the very same questions alongside them. Helping schools respond when the news feels difficult One of our most significant live events was the Big Welcome Back Assembly in September 2024. Following the riots and unrest seen in parts of the UK during the summer holidays, teachers contacted us because they were unsure how to address what children had seen and heard. Some pupils would return with questions or worries, while others may have encountered misinformation and upsetting material online. Schools wanted to acknowledge what had happened without frightening children or allowing it to overshadow the beginning of a new academic year. Our response was a special live assembly called Celebrating Our Differences and Overcoming Adversity. It gave schools a calm, age-appropriate starting point for conversations about mutual respect, tolerance, belonging and the strength of our communities. More than 3,400 primary schools registered, representing approximately 550,000 children. Together, we reflected on positive stories of people supporting one another following the unrest and considered how each of us can help build a respectful, welcoming community. The assembly was broadcast live from St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy in Boston, Lincolnshire—a wonderfully diverse school where around 20 languages are spoken. The event attracted national attention, featuring on BBC News and Newsround. You can read the BBC’s report about the assembly here. It demonstrated exactly why these shared moments matter. When a news story feels overwhelming, schools do not have to navigate the conversation alone. Picture News Live Assembly, Celebrating Our Differences and Overcoming Adversity, featured in BBC News. Celebrating Black history with Swarzy In October 2024, more than 384,000 children joined our Black History Month live assembly with BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter Swarzy Macaly. Exploring the theme Reclaiming Narratives, Swarzy helped children consider the power of stories: who tells them, whose voices are heard and why it is important for everyone to have ownership of their own story. Swarzy returned for our 2025 Black History Month assembly, which explored the theme Standing Firm in Power and Pride. These sessions created a positive national conversation about identity, representation, history and the ways we can lift one another up. Schools joining the Black History Month Primary Live Assembly. Live from Antarctica with Robert Swan OBE In December 2025, we hosted something genuinely groundbreaking: the world’s first live school assembly broadcast from Antarctica. More than 4,000 schools joined us as polar explorer Robert Swan OBE spoke live from the ice, around 600 miles from the South Pole. In collaboration with 2041 Schools, Robert shared first-hand stories of Antarctica and helped children understand why this extraordinary frozen continent needs protecting. Pupils were able to see the environment, hear from someone experiencing it and consider what it means to become a “Champion of Antarctica”. It transformed an important environmental issue into something immediate and unforgettable. Antarctica was no longer simply a place in a textbook or on a map; children were connecting with somebody who was actually there. Robert Swan broadcasting live from Antarctica during the Picture News Live Assembly from Antarctica. Celebrating Sir David Attenborough with Steve Backshall To mark Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday, more than 7,000 schools joined our biggest online birthday celebration. Our special guest was naturalist, explorer and wildlife presenter Steve Backshall. Together, we looked back at Sir David’s extraordinary life and legacy, explored his influence on generations of nature lovers and considered our shared responsibility to protect the natural world. Steve spoke about his own adventures and the impact Sir David has had on him personally. It was an inspiring opportunity for children to celebrate a national treasure while thinking seriously about the future of our planet. Over 1,000,000 children joined live to celebrate David Attenborough's 100th birthday with Picture News and Steve Backshall. Getting the nation moving with Joe Wicks Our Big School Workout with Joe Wicks brought a completely different kind of energy to classrooms! Broadcast live from a primary school in Surrey during Mental Health Awareness Week, Joe and Picture News founder Katie Harrison led children—and plenty of teachers—through an energetic nationwide workout. The session was about more than exercise. Coinciding with the end of SATs, it encouraged pupils to consider how movement can boost our mood, develop resilience and support both physical and mental wellbeing. It was joyful, active and a brilliant reminder that important learning does not always happen while sitting at a desk. Schools got moving with Joe Wicks during the Big School Live Workout. Exploring inclusion, wellbeing and belonging Other Picture News live assemblies have helped children explore some of the emotional and social experiences that shape their lives. During Children’s Mental Health Week, author and mental health advocate Katie Hopper joined us to explore why feeling included matters and how our actions can help others feel welcome. Jack from Pop’n’Olly has helped pupils learn about British Values and inclusion, opening accessible conversations about difference, respect and belonging. These sessions give schools a shared language for discussing subjects that can sometimes feel difficult to introduce. They also allow children to hear directly from guests whose stories bring the themes to life. Pop'n'Olly joined Picture News to deliver inclusion-themed live sessions for schools. Journeying into the Amazon Our journey into the Amazon rainforest introduced children to Chumpi Washikiat of the Achuar Indigenous Nation. Alongside Jenny Cooke from Oddizzi, Chumpi spoke about his community, daily life in the rainforest and the importance of protecting this remarkable environment. Children across the UK submitted thoughtful questions and heard an authentic first-hand perspective that could never be replicated by simply reading a page in a textbook. Achuar leader, Chumpi, joined Picture News to educate schools about life in the Amazon rainforest. Learning through major shared moments Live assemblies also allow us to respond to the moments capturing children’s attention. Our Big World Cup Primary Party used the excitement surrounding the tournament to explore much wider themes, including teamwork, respect, resilience and coping with disappointment. Whether the starting point is football, wildlife, an important anniversary or a major news event, we always return to one central question: what can children learn from this? Why live assemblies matter Children are growing up in a busy and complicated world. News reaches them quickly, often before the adults around them have had time to decide how best to explain it. Our live assemblies create a safe bridge between the headlines and the classroom. They help children: Hear directly from inspiring people and communities Encounter experiences and perspectives beyond their everyday lives Discuss important issues in an age-appropriate way Develop curiosity, empathy and critical-thinking skills Recognise that their questions, ideas and actions matter Feel connected to children in thousands of other schools They also give teachers a trusted, ready-made starting point for conversations—particularly when the subject is sensitive, fast-moving or unfamiliar. Where will we go next? Every Picture News live assembly begins with curiosity. It might take us to the Antarctic ice, deep into the Amazon rainforest, into conversation with an inspiring guest or onto our feet for a nationwide workout. Wherever we go, our aim remains the same: to help children understand the world, talk about it and recognise their place within it. We are enormously grateful to every guest, teacher and pupil who has joined us so far. Your questions, enthusiasm and ideas are what make these events so special. We cannot wait to see where our next big question takes us.
