Character education

How can we 'teach' integrity?

11 February 2022

When so many in the public eye today simply deny inconvenient facts or dismiss them as ‘‘fake news’’, how can we expect the young to 'learn' integrity? Dr Stephanie Thornton considers how schools can encourage this vital characteristic

Rebuilding hope: Attitudes and values

28 June 2021

People who have hope generally have better developmental outcomes. In this four-part series, psychologist Dr Stephanie Thornton looks at building back hope as we emerge from the pandemic. Part four looks at how we can foster hope, ‘flourishing’ and positivity

Developing students' resilience: What does the research say?

12 October 2020

Resilience as a life-skill and as a part of character education has come to the fore in recent years – and in an era of Covid-19, it seems more relevant than ever. Dr Stephanie Thornton looks at what the research says about this sometimes-elusive concept

Character education: What does it look like?

31 May 2020

The virtues and traits that are developed through effective character education have never been more important as young people navigate their way through the Covid-19 pandemic. Drawing on the Schools of Character Kitemark, Tom Haigh looks at what it means place character at the heart of your school

Home education: Resources for schools, teachers and parents: Part 3

27 April 2020

This is the third edition of the SecEd compendium of home schooling and remote education resources for schools, teachers and parents. We cover a range of subjects, as well as exercise and keeping fit, mental health and wellbeing, cultural and arts activities, and whole-school support

School ethos, vision and aspiration

30 January 2019

Character, aspiration and school ethos are all linked. Matt Bawden advises on the importance of school ethos, how it links to aspiration, and how we must communicate it. He offers three guiding principles for using school ethos or vision to raise aspirations

Character education: Raising aspirations

3 October 2018

We cannot force aspiration onto students. This year in SecEd, Matt Bawden will be looking at how we can encourage aspiration naturally, and the role that character education can play

The Into Film Festival 2018

5 September 2018

This year’s Into Film Festival takes place from November 7 to 23 and schools can already book their free places. Sam Wilson introduces this year’s programme

Keeping children safe

13 June 2018

Working together to keep our children safe is crucial. With new safeguarding guidance for schools, Matt Bawden considers how safeguarding training and practice links into a school’s vision and values

The cornerstones of character: Opportunity

9 May 2018

In the final of his four articles on the cornerstones of good character and mental health provision, Matt Bawden looks at the opportunities available and how to take hold of them…

The cornerstones of character: Direction

28 February 2018

Your school’s leadership of mental health, wellbeing and character must have purpose and a clear direction in order to achieve positive outcomes. Matt Bawden explains

The cornerstones of character: Accountability

10 January 2018

The importance of good accountability in mental health and character education provision has been identified as one of the four cornerstones of best practice. Matt Bawden explores what this might look like

The cornerstones of character: Leadership

15 November 2017

The importance of good leadership in mental health and character education provision has been identified as one of the four cornerstones of best practice. Matt Bawden explores what this might look like

Into Film Festival 2017

6 September 2017

The annual Into Film Festival takes place in November with 3,000 free screenings and events. It is the world’s largest film education festival. Sam Wilson looks at what’s on

Does your school have a positive moral climate?

19 April 2017

Does your school and your teaching still maintain its moral dimension – or has this lost out to competing pressures? Matt Bawden reflects on teaching in a ‘positive moral climate’

How ‘honest’ are you and your school?

8 March 2017

What role does honesty play in the character and ethos of your school? Matt Bawden discusses why honesty should drive everything we do as staff and how this can inspire students and parents too

Defining character education

18 January 2017

Character education – how can you define it and what does it look like in the classroom and beyond? Maria O’Neill and Mike Buchanan gives their own definitions of what character is (and is not) and discuss how we can deliver it

Character, ethos and your school website

4 January 2017

Is your school website dull and dry or does it communicate the ethos, character and heart of your school? In the context of character education, Matt Bawden offers some advice

Bett Show 2017 – Your SecEd Guide

8 December 2016

SecEd's annual Bett Show Guide offers 32 pages of preview information to help you prepare for the world's largest educational technology event, which takes place at London's ExCeL from January 25 to 28.

Character education: Environment, empathy and failure

16 November 2016

What has your school’s response to the character agenda been? Dr Morgan Phillips offers a broad discussion about what character is, the challenges for schools in ‘teaching’ it, and the importance of environment, empathy and failure

Character education: Teaching them curiosity

9 November 2016

Curiosity is a difficult skill to teach and perhaps harder still to harness and direct. Our resident character education expert, Matt Bawden, explores the nature and use of curiosity in education
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