Why Teaching Empathy Matters More Than Ever – Lessons from Empathy Week 2025

by Camilla Cook, Assistant Head - Values, Atelier 21 Future School

At Atelier 21, we believe that education is about so much more than grades. It’s about equipping young people with the values, skills, and human understanding they’ll need to thrive in an unpredictable world. That’s why empathy is not an “add-on” for us. Instead, it’s central to how we teach, learn, and live together as a community. 

This year, our partnership with Empathy Studios gave us the opportunity to deepen that commitment. Empathy Week 2025 was a highlight of our school year: a chance for students to step outside their own lived experiences, hear stories from people whose lives may be very different from theirs, and reflect on what it means to connect with others on a human level..

For Years 3–6, that meant a trip to the ACS Egham Empathy Week event. The day was a vibrant mix of film, storytelling, discussion, and creative activities designed to help children not just understand others’ perspectives, but also feel them. One of the most memorable activities was “What’s Your Spark?” a simple question that prompted our young learners to think about what excites and motivates them. I overheard conversations about passions ranging from baking to robotics, and it was wonderful to see the young people engaging in what others’ passions were too.

We later brought this activity back into school and used it as the foundation for a collaborative display at our “Big Share” parents’ event. Parents loved seeing what lights up their children’s worlds, and in turn, those children learned that everyone’s spark is both unique and valuable.

Meanwhile, our Years 9–10 students attended the Amnesty International Empathy Week event in London. The atmosphere was different: more serious, more reflective, but just as powerful. Here, students engaged with challenging conversations about human rights, justice, and the courage it takes to speak out against unequal treatment. Several students commented on how hearing first-hand accounts from the speakers made issues they’d only read about suddenly feel urgent and real. One Year 10 student told me afterwards, “It’s not that I didn’t care before, I just didn’t know how much it mattered until I heard someone’s actual story.” Moments like that are why empathy education is so vital.

The impact of these events didn’t end when we returned to school. In our primary classrooms, the “What’s Your Spark?” activity became a starting point for discussions about how to respect and celebrate differences. In Years 7–8, we’ve been using the Empathy Programme to structure regular empathy-building sessions, exploring topics such as identity, active listening, and perspective-taking. The programme has provided a consistent, practical framework for helping students understand that empathy is not just a feeling, but a skill they can develop. Our plan for next year is to expand this work so that empathy is embedded as a core value in our community.

Empathy Week has also influenced how we design our curriculum. One of the most exciting developments for next academic year is our new Social Entrepreneurship course for Years 7–8, launching in September. The first term will focus solely on empathy: understanding communities, identifying needs, and considering the human impact of solutions. Only after building that foundation will students move into developing projects and prototypes. In other words, before they try to change the world, they’ll practise understanding it. 

From a teaching perspective, embedding empathy has shifted how I think about student wellbeing. Wellbeing is often approached as an individual matter; how each young learner feels, copes, and manages themselves. But empathy reframes it as something inherently relational: we are shaped by our interactions with others, and our ability to see the world from another’s perspective is closely tied to our own sense of belonging. When young people feel truly heard and understood, they are better equipped to listen and respond in kind. 

Of course, empathy in education is not about always agreeing with one another or avoiding difficult conversations. In fact, it’s often the opposite. The more we encourage students to listen deeply to perspectives that differ from their own, the more they can engage in constructive disagreement. At Atelier 21, we see empathy as a foundation for courage: the courage to speak, to listen, to challenge respectfully, and to act with compassion.

Our relationship with Empathy Studios has shown us that empathy education is not a one-off initiative, but a long-term commitment. It requires space in the timetable, a commitment from teaching staff, and, above all, a belief that understanding others is just as important as academic achievement. Watching our students at both ACS Egham and Amnesty International, leaning forward, listening intently, asking thoughtful questions, confirmed for me that this investment pays off. 

As educators, we have a choice: to prepare students to compete with one another, or to prepare them to collaborate on the challenges our world faces. At Atelier 21, we choose collaboration. Empathy Week 2025 reminded us that the most important lessons are not found in textbooks, but in the moments when one human being truly connects with another. And if our students can carry that into the wider world, then we have done something truly worthwhile.