A Year 6 class at Burgess Hill School for Girls proved this week that they had, not the X Factor, but 'The K Factor!'

In this case the K stood for Kindness and the girls carried out a social experiment to discover if random acts of kindness would affect those around them. The answer was a resounding 'Yes' and together they produced a 'chain of kindness' with links acknowledging each good deed.

"Our aim is to get every girl in the school to add her own link so that the chain will stretch around our school hall," explained Beatrice Brindle, who played the part of the compere in the girls' morning assembly.

One of their favourite acts of kindness involved each girl making a 'Goody Bag' for one member of staff, containing items which represented that teacher's personality.

"It was heart-warming to see the looks on the teachers' faces. They were so delighted by their gifts and the girls received the sweetest Thank You letters from the staff."

The students are hoping that the ultimate result of these kindnesses is that all the children will 'pay it forward' by doing kind deeds for others around them.

"Aesop said, No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted," commented class captain, Sophie Rowson, "and now we've started the chain, we're going to keep it going."

Year 6 in their 'K' Factor assembly

09/12/11