Mary Seacole Assembly for Primary Schools – Black History Month & Equality
Updated: Sep 11
This Mary Seacole assembly for primary schools introduces children to the remarkable story of Mary Seacole and explores the values of equality, determination and giving everyone a fair chance. Pupils discover how Mary overcame rejection and prejudice to travel independently to the Crimea, where she used her nursing knowledge to care for sick and wounded soldiers.
Ideal for Black History Month, this ready-to-use assembly helps children learn about an important Black British historical figure while opening up meaningful discussion about prejudice, equality and how we respond when somebody tells us “no”.
Suitable for EYFS, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.
This resource is part of our Famous Faces assemblies, using the lives of inspirational people to explore history, values and questions that matter to children today.
Who was Mary Seacole?
Mary Seacole is remembered for her determination to help sick and wounded soldiers during the Crimean War.
In 1854, Britain was fighting in the Crimean War and thousands of soldiers were becoming sick or injured. Mary wanted to use her skills and experience to help them.
She travelled to Britain and approached the government and the nursing team being sent to the Crimea, hoping that she would be allowed to join them.
She was turned down.
Rather than simply accepting the decision, Mary tried again – but the answer was still no.
This moment provides the central question for the assembly: what do you do when somebody tells you “no”?
Mary’s response makes her story a powerful way for primary-aged children to explore determination, prejudice and equality.
Why is Mary Seacole important for Black History Month?
Mary Seacole provides schools with an opportunity to explore the achievements and experiences of an important Black historical figure as part of Black History Month in primary schools.
Her story is not simply one of achievement. It also raises questions about prejudice, opportunity and equality.
After being rejected when she tried to join the nursing effort in the Crimea, Mary was left wondering why she had not been accepted. The assembly encourages children to consider whether her sex or the colour of her skin could have influenced how she was treated.
Rather than presenting children with a simple answer, the assembly uses Mary’s experiences as a starting point for discussion about what prejudice means and whether everyone receives the same opportunities.
This makes the resource particularly useful for a Black History Month assembly, because pupils are encouraged not only to learn about an important person from history but also to consider the wider issues raised by her experiences.
Our Black History Month assemblies and resources help primary schools celebrate significant Black figures while exploring values including equality, courage, justice and determination.
What happened to Mary Seacole during the Crimean War?
Mary wanted to help the soldiers who were becoming sick and injured during the Crimean War.
When her attempts to join the official nursing effort were unsuccessful, she had a choice.
She could give up.
She could keep asking the same people.
Or she could find another way.
The assembly pauses at this point and asks children what they think Mary should do, allowing pupils to consider the choices available to her before discovering what happened next.
Mary chose to find another way.
She travelled independently to the Crimea using her own resources and working with Thomas Day. Near Balaclava, they established the British Hotel, providing food, supplies and other services for soldiers.
Mary also used her nursing knowledge to care for sick and wounded men and travelled to areas near the fighting to provide assistance.
Her determination meant that being told “no” did not stop her from finding a way to help.
What can children learn from Mary Seacole?
Mary Seacole’s story provides several powerful messages for primary-aged children.
One is about determination.
Mary had something that she believed she could contribute. When her first route was closed to her, she did not simply abandon her goal. She found another way to use her skills.
But the assembly also encourages children to look beyond Mary’s individual determination.
Why did she have to find another way in the first place?
Was Mary given the same opportunity as everybody else?
These questions turn the story into an opportunity to explore fairness and equality rather than simply telling children that they should keep trying when something goes wrong.
This makes the resource useful both as a Mary Seacole assembly and as an assembly about equality and prejudice.
How does Mary Seacole’s story teach children about equality?
Equality is the central value running through this assembly.
After learning Mary’s story, children are asked:
Was Mary treated equally?
If not, why do you think that was?
What does equality actually mean?
These questions encourage pupils to think beyond the historical events and consider what equality looks like in their own communities.
Equality does not simply mean treating everybody identically in every situation. It includes ensuring that people are given a fair chance and are not excluded or disadvantaged because of who they are.
Mary’s experience provides an accessible historical example through which children can begin exploring prejudice and discrimination.
The assembly then moves towards a practical question for pupils: how can we make sure that we give other people a fair chance?
This makes Mary Seacole particularly effective for schools looking for collective worship or assemblies about equality, fairness and inclusion.
What does prejudice mean?
Prejudice is one of the key vocabulary words introduced before children hear Mary’s story, alongside cholera and determination.
In simple terms, prejudice means forming an unfair opinion about somebody because of something such as their race, sex, religion or background rather than judging them as an individual.
Mary Seacole’s experiences allow children to consider what prejudice can look like in a real historical context.
For younger pupils, this can begin with the simple idea of giving everybody a fair chance.
Older children can explore more complex questions about why Mary may have been rejected and how attitudes towards race and women affected people’s opportunities in the past.
This makes the assembly adaptable across the primary age range and provides useful vocabulary for further classroom work during Black History Month.
Why is Mary Seacole an inspirational famous person?
Mary Seacole is remembered not only because of the barriers she encountered but because of what she chose to do next.
When one route was closed, she found another.
She travelled independently to the Crimea, established the British Hotel with Thomas Day and used her knowledge to support sick and wounded soldiers.
Her story demonstrates determination, resourcefulness and a commitment to helping others.
It also gives children an opportunity to think critically about the way inspirational people are remembered.
Mary’s achievements matter, but so do the obstacles she faced.
Learning about both helps pupils understand why figures such as Mary Seacole remain important today.
Schools can discover more inspirational historical and contemporary figures through our Famous Faces assemblies for primary schools.
How can this assembly support Black History Month in primary schools?
Black History Month provides an opportunity for schools to celebrate Black history, learn about significant individuals and explore how the experiences of the past can help us think about society today.
A Mary Seacole assembly can contribute to this by combining biography with meaningful discussion.
Rather than simply presenting a list of facts about Mary, this resource asks children to engage with decisions and questions from her story.
Why might Mary have been rejected?
Was she treated equally?
What does equality mean?
What would you do if somebody told you “no”?
How can we give others a fair chance?
These questions help turn Black History Month for primary schools into an opportunity for discussion, reflection and learning rather than simply remembering famous names.
Schools planning a wider programme can combine this resource with our Black History Month assemblies, Famous Faces assemblies and other resources exploring equality and inspirational people.
This Mary Seacole assembly includes:
A ready-to-use PowerPoint
An introduction to Mary Seacole
A focus on equality and determination
A Black History Month link
The Crimean War and Mary’s desire to help
An illustrated story of Mary’s rejection
An interactive choice about what Mary should do next
Mary’s journey to the Crimea
The story of the British Hotel
Key vocabulary including prejudice, cholera and determination
Discussion about equality and fairness
A Mary Seacole quotation for reflection
A practical challenge encouraging children to give others a fair chance
FAQs
What value does the Mary Seacole assembly explore?
The main value is equality. Children consider whether Mary was treated equally, what equality actually means and how they can help give other people a fair chance.
Is this Mary Seacole assembly suitable for primary schools?
Yes. The assembly uses visual storytelling, an accessible big question and opportunities for discussion and reflection, making the story suitable for use across the primary age range.
Can this assembly be used outside Black History Month?
Absolutely. Although it works particularly well as a Black History Month assembly, Mary Seacole’s story can be explored throughout the year as part of work on famous people, the Victorians, the Crimean War, equality, prejudice, determination or inspirational women.
Do I need to plan anything for this assembly?
No. The resource is designed to be ready to use, with the story, vocabulary, discussion and reflection incorporated into the PowerPoint. Simply read through the assembly beforehand and adapt the discussion to suit the age of your pupils.
Looking for more Black History Month assemblies?
Explore our Black History Month assemblies and resources to help pupils discover inspiring Black figures, celebrate achievement and explore important themes including equality, justice, courage and determination.
You can also discover more inspirational people through our Famous Faces assemblies, with ready-to-use resources designed to introduce primary-aged children to significant people from history and the world today.
For more resources exploring fairness and inclusion, browse our assemblies about equality, or explore the complete collection of primary school assemblies available from Out of the Box Assemblies.
Explore our Black History Month resources and make meaningful discussion about Black history, equality and inspirational people part of your school assembly programme.
Assembly Resources:
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