Advocating for Character Education: Sir Anthony Seldon's Call to Action for Teachers

In a recent interview with Sir Anthony Seldon, a decorated contemporary historian, author, and founder of ‘Action for Happiness’, he shared his advocacy for quality character education provision in schools. Sir Anthony is known for introducing ‘Wellbeing and Happiness’ to the curriculum at Wellington College, one of Britain’s leading independent schools.?

He believes that schools can do much more than being exam factories, where children are validated by their academic achievements rather than their character and mental health.?

He emphasizes the importance of young people forming a secure identity through stable loving relationships, as well as the negative impact of social media on this process.

The most pressing challenge young people face today, according to Sir Anthony, is the need for support in forming a secure identity. He believes that schools have a vital role in supporting young people to develop secure character so they can make the best of life and not develop into a generation of people who really can’t cope.

To achieve this, he suggests that schools should develop character traits such as resilience, strength to withstand adversity, communication, empathy, and confidence, either intentionally or as part of the ‘hidden curriculum’.?

He argues that teaching these skills explicitly can positively impact academic results, as children who are more settled and secure tend to perform better. He supports teaching character wellbeing as opposed to waiting for young people to break down, which the government prefers.

Sir Anthony believes that capacity-building proactively, rather than waiting for young people to break down, is what’s needed. He commends the work of organizations like Role Models, who offer quality character education provision to young people, as he believes that starting young is key.

As professionals in the character education field, we have an important role to play in supporting young people to develop secure character and mental health. Let’s take heed of Sir Anthony’s words and work towards a future where young people are equipped with the skills to manage their lives independently and cope with life’s challenges.

#CharacterEducation #EducationMatters #WellbeingInSchools

This article was written by Brigid Shine, Content Executive at Role Models. Brigid has a decade of teaching experience in both the state & independent sectors in the UK and the Middle East.