Character Education

What is Character Education?

Character Education is about more than following rules or behaving well - it is about helping children develop the qualities, habits and virtues that guide how they think, feel, and act. At Monkwick Junior School, we believe that character is formed through virtues such as honesty, civility, reflection and determination, which enable children to flourish and contribute positively to others.

We develop character in three complementary ways:

• Taught - through explicit lessons, assemblies and discussions where children explore values, reflect on their meaning and practise applying them in real situations.

• Caught - through everyday interactions, where children observe adults and peers modelling positive behaviour, showing kindness, perseverance, integrity and respect in action.

• Sought - through opportunities for children to take initiative, make decisions and apply values independently in school life, clubs, leadership roles and wider activities.

By combining these approaches, children not only understand why values matter, but also practise them and internalise them as part of who they are. Character Education at Monkwick Junior School is therefore a lived experience: children see, practise and take ownership of positive behaviours, growing into thoughtful, resilient and caring individuals ready for the opportunities and challenges of the future.

Why we teach it

At Monkwick Junior School, our mission is working together to deliver opportunity and excellence in education for every child - all day, every day, every person. To achieve this, we place equal importance on character as we do on academic achievement. We want every child to leave our school not only with knowledge and skills, but also with the strength of character to thrive in life and contribute positively to the world around them.

Character Education reflects who we are as a community. We teach children that every individual is valued and important, and that together we are stronger when we support one another. By learning to be kind, caring and respectful, pupils discover how to keep each other safe and to build meaningful relationships. We also encourage perseverance, helping children develop the determination to keep going even when faced with challenges. Above all, our approach inspires pupils to recognise their own talents, believe in themselves and aim high - putting their aspirations into action with pride and confidence.

What we teach

Our framework is structured around four core school values, explored progressively across the year. Alongside these, we embed our Trust’s broader values of resilience, respect, integrity, accountability, passion and aspiration:

Together, these values provide a shared moral language and framework that helps children make sense of their experiences, understand themselves and others, and grow in virtue.

How we teach it 

Character Education is a golden thread woven through school life, and not a subject taught in isolation. Pupils experience and practise values every day:

• Assemblies & stories - books, songs and discussion bring values to life and give children space to reflect on their own choices.

• Curriculum & PSHE/Advantage lessons - learning activities explicitly connect knowledge to values, helping pupils understand how to act with integrity and kindness.

• Class-based character lessons - in addition to regular curriculum teaching, children have dedicated lessons to reflect on the current value, discuss scenarios, and complete activities that help them practise and internalise virtues such as honesty, reflection and civility.

• Clubs & enrichment - each activity emphasises a value, extending character development beyond the classroom.

• Behaviour policy & consistent routines - our clear expectations, routines and approach to behaviour support civility, respect and responsibility across the school. Children see these values in action daily and are encouraged to uphold them themselves.

• Celebration & recognition - we acknowledge pupils who demonstrate our values, reinforcing that character matters alongside academic achievement.

• School Council & leadership roles - pupils use values to guide decision-making and teamwork, practising responsibility and respect.

• Daily interactions & modelling - staff consistently use values language and demonstrate virtues in everyday interactions, helping children see them in action.

• Visual reminders - displays, prompts and environmental cues keep values visible and encourage reflection across the school.

Through this approach, Character Education is lived and experienced every day, helping our pupils grow into thoughtful, resilient and confident young people who can flourish both now and in the future.