Character Education

Character Education is part of the personal development programme, with a focus on wellbeing and the Gosforth Charter. It aims to develop students as well-rounded individuals who are confident in caring for their own wellbeing and making positive contributions to their community.

Our Gosforth Charter consists of six virtues, which underpin our students' personal and academic achievements.

Courage – overcoming fear to do what you think is right
Creativity – thinking about a situation, task or idea in a new way
Integrity – being strong enough to do what you think is right, even when it is difficult
Persistence – to keep going and never give up, even in tough situations
Service – giving up your own time to help others in need
Teamwork & Empathy – listening to others’ ideas and working to produce the best outcomes

The Gosforth Academy Charter

The Wellbeing Pyramid

Body care is the base of the wellbeing pyramid. It is most important to look after your physical needs and ensure that you eat, drink, sleep, and exercise.

Next, you can add taking care of the mind. Meditation, gratitude, and reflection are all vital tools for helping your mind slow down and focus on the present.

Once you feel you are taking care of yourself, you can search for your passion. Evidence shows this significantly impacts your wellbeing, but you have to get the pyramid's base right first!

Once you've identified your passion, you can leverage it to make a positive impact on others. For example, if you're passionate about sports, you could volunteer to coach younger students, thereby not only enhancing your own wellbeing but also making a difference in their lives.

Well-being Pyramid

Why is care of the body at the base of the pyramid?

If you can only manage one small change, what should you focus on? Why?

How Character Education is taught

At Gosforth Academy, we realise that our parents' number one priority is their children's happiness and wellbeing. In the post-pandemic world, this has become even more pressing as statistics indicate that many of the young people of Britain are struggling with their mental health. The Character Education programme aims to prevent problems from arising in the first place, emphasising developing the emotional grit of young people to cope with life. We strive for students to leave Gosforth as resilient and thoughtful individuals with the confidence and self-belief to succeed in their chosen field beyond school.

The Character Education programme is based on the overarching theme of care:

Care of the body
Care of the mind
Care of others
Care of our passions
Care of our place in the world

Each half term, we use time in the Praise lessons and registrations to explore these ideas. We look at the importance of sleep, diet and exercise as a means of promoting wellbeing in the first half term and in the second, we look at issues such as anxiety and stress and strategies to deal with these everyday aspects of teenage life. In the spring term, we look at how kindness to others can promote our own wellbeing, and we also explore the importance of devoting time and energy to hobbies and interests away from academic work.

This links to our extensive enrichment programme at Gosforth Academy, which allows all our students to develop their character outside of the classroom. We encourage students to attend as many extra-curricular activities as possible in the hope they will become more confident and increase their self-belief, which will prepare them for life beyond Gosforth Academy.

At Gosforth Academy, we foster a community of responsible, courteous, and socially conscious individuals. Our students are encouraged to behave with integrity and cooperate well with others. In the summer term, we focus on our place in the world, which includes raising awareness about ethical consumption and mindful use of technology. We also provide opportunities for our students to work with local charities, promoting civic-mindedness.

Student exchange in Germany

Why Character Education matters

Research suggests that there are enabling character traits that can improve educational attainment, engagement with school, and attendance. A literature review for the Education Endowment Foundation and Cabinet Office found that:

- high self-efficacy, or self-belief, is associated with better performance, more persistence and greater interest in work
- highly motivated children (linked to tenacity) driven internally and not by extrinsic rewards show more significant levels of persistence and achievement
- good self-control (or self-regulation, the ability to delay gratification) is associated with greater attainment levels
- having good coping skills (part of being able to bounce back) is associated with greater wellbeing.

Other studies have suggested that schools which develop character well help drive equity and social mobility for their pupils.

Character Education

Results from a survey of 1,130 school leaders, teachers and other staff working in primary and secondary schools showed an increased prevalence of other mental health issues among pupils this school year, including:

- 86% noted an increase in low self-esteem
- 76% said they’d seen an increase in depression
- 68% witnessed an increase in sustained feelings of anger

For staff working in secondary schools:

- 72% have noticed an increase in self-harm
- 61% in suicidal thoughts
- 56% in eating difficulties among pupils

Why Character Education Matters For Your Career

A recent study from the California Institute of Technology found that adults who spent at least half an hour on their wellbeing each week earned 10-20% more money than adults who didn’t (Cal Tech, 2018).

One of the most common pieces of advice billionaires give in interviews is to work on your own physical and mental wellbeing as you work on your business (Forbes, 2021).

Harvard University found that regular exercise and a 15-minute nap per day reduced the risk of heart issues by 68% in men and 30% in women. The study also found that those who exercise regularly earned an average of 23% more than those who didn’t (Harvard, 2022).

Building strong habits now will make it easier to look after yourself in the future, meaning you could earn more money, feel happier and be healthier.

Character Education at Gosforth Academy

What our students say about Character Education...

"Character Education helps me to understand how to look after myself and others."
^{Year 9 student}

"I find it valuable, although I know wellbeing is important, I didn’t know how to look after myself properly."
^{Year 10 student}

"My registration teacher, goes above and beyond to show she cares about us as people, and checks in on our wellbeing"
^{Year 12 student}

"The lessons are interesting and interactive. I love the debates!"
^{Year 9 student}

“I benefited from the focus on wellbeing during exams. Discussing coping strategies was helpful.”
^{Year 11 student}

Character Education Beyond School

Wellbeing is optimised through collaboration among students, schools, and families.

We collaborate with UK Mental Health charities, who advocate for a proactive approach to supporting student mental health. At Gosforth Academy, our Character Education program focuses on providing students with the tools to enhance their well-being before mental health issues arise. We believe that every student should have the opportunity to cultivate habits that promote good wellbeing and create a positive future. You can also support your child at home. Below, you will find links to important and useful information to help parents and carers support their children at home.