Character Education can Transform Pupil Outcomes

Imagine a school where ‘normal’ looks different, and where you feel that you’re making a real difference. Consider a school where actions are carefully thought about, and relationships with colleagues are deep and meaningful.

Reflect on a school where character education promotes grit and determination, and staff feel authentically valued. What’s specifically happening in this setting, and what impact will such an environment have on the lives of the pupils?

Culture of values

My reason for becoming a school leader was to offer every person in my school the opportunity to truly flourish and become their very best selves. If this vision could be become a reality for all, what a different world we would have.

When schools work to embed a culture of values, positive change happens in every aspect of school life. As a school leader I’ve experienced this first-hand, having seen many examples of the impact this way of working has had all over the world. Schools in countries such as India, Nigeria, America, Australia, Iceland and Russia are recognising how critically important this dimension of education really is.

If your school is to successfully embed a culture of values successfully, your most vital resource will be your staff. Not only must they be able to develop their skills, their time also needs freeing up to enable them to talk to children and help them explore their own core values at a deeper level. That’s easier said than done, of course – but crucial for helping them look inside and develop stronger character traits. It’s doable, and a very wise use of the time they have.

To be clear, this isn’t a magic process. Working towards the vision we know to be right for our children takes dedication, drive and huge amounts of resilience.

Relating on a deeper level

A model for true character education – for all – can be seen in the The Values-based Education (VbE) approach developed over 20 years ago by Dr Neil Hawkes, with its emphasis on improving social and emotional wellbeing and building mental ‘wealth’.

As a leader and a practitioner, I’ve found that knowing myself better has enabled me to relate to others on a deeper level. If we can extend that to the children in our care – showing them how to use values in their lives to become more independent, courageous, positive and resilient – we’ll be preparing them better for the toughness of life and the challenges they’ll face.

A headteacher of a school in Kent recently attributed an astounding transformation in outcomes to their implementation of VbE. The school in question saw 154 days lost to exclusions in the year 2014-15. You can imagine the toxic culture of such an environment.

In September 2015, however, the school held a day of VbE training for all staff, who subsequently began to embed a values-based culture throughout the school. At the close of the 2017-18 academic year, zero days have been lost and the school is thriving – a superb example of a happy, values-based environment where people are properly flourishing!

Sue Webb is a professional leadership coach, executive consultant at Valuesbased Education and a former headteacher; her book Can I Tell You About Compassion? Is available now from Jessica Kingsley Publishers, priced at £8.99.