Character Education - The Importance and Benefits

The measures of a quality education extend far beyond academic attainment and exam results. However, many parents and schools often neglect Character Education as a vital part of a child's educational experience. But what is Character Education and why is its importance greater than ever in our rapidly changing world? 

What is Character Education?

Character Education refers to explicit and implicit efforts to cultivate virtues and ethical values. The underlying principle of Character Education is to develop character traits and behaviours that instil motivation and guide conduct so that pupils reflect wisely, learn eagerly, behave with integrity and work well with others; the qualities that they need to flourish in our society. At Farlington, Character Education is embedded across our curriculum, school culture and extra-curricular activities.

Why is Character Education Important?

As an integral part of a balanced and well-rounded curriculum, schools have a duty to foster the social, moral and cultural development of pupils and prepare them for the challenges and responsibilities they will inevitably encounter in their future lives.

Character Education is crucial in today's society because it equips pupils with the positive personal traits, dispositions, and moral and ethical compass required to navigate our increasingly complex world. While we cannot prepare children for jobs, experiences, problems and technologies yet to be conceived, Character Education serves to equip pupils with a toolkit to flourish in a job market and society that is continuously changing and evolving. They also develop the capacity of knowing how to select the best course of action in difficult situations.

What are the benefits of Character Education?

A dedicated approach to nurturing character yields many benefits. As research indicates, it can result in increased wellbeing and academic attainment for pupils.

Character Education fosters resilience and self-confidence. When pupils face challenges or setbacks, they learn to persevere and bounce back. Confidence in their abilities grows, enabling them to tackle new challenges with determination.

By fostering virtues of responsibility, citizenship and service, pupils are encouraged to contribute to the common good and actively contribute to the betterment of their communities and society.

Our Commitment to Character Education

At Farlington School, we firmly believe cultivating character is the cornerstone for improving wellbeing, attainment and behaviour, and preparing pupils to prosper in society. Through character development and learning, we allow children to grow into resilient adaptable individuals who can shape their own future.

"At Farlington, we believe in the importance of developing the whole individual, enabling our students to have every opportunity to develop into 'rounded and grounded' young men and women by the time they leave our school,” says Headmaster James Passam.

“To that end, we prioritise opportunities for our pupils to develop their teamwork and leadership skills; a sense of social responsibility; entrepreneurship skills; risk taking; and a sense of a personal moral compass, in order that they may become strong global citizens and leaders in their own right in their future careers."

Our tradition of excellence, our commitment to Character Education, and our dedicated educators make our school the perfect setting for pupils who want to extend their education beyond grades; it's about becoming responsible, empathetic, and resilient and well rounded adults.

To find out more about Farlington, click here to book a tour or register for one of our upcoming Open Events.