Character-Building

In a rapidly changing and unpredictable world, how can our children keep up with, or even set the pace?

A strong sense of character lies at the heart of it, as LWC’s Assistant Deputy Head (Character), Claire Liggins explains….

 

When I was little, I would sit on the kitchen counter as my mum rolled out pastry for our family quiches. She’d hand me the scraps and say, ‘Who needs Play-Doh when you have pastry? Back in my day, we didn’t have all this fancy Plasticine and we turned out just fine.’

 

That phrase, ‘Back in my day,’ often pops up when we’re feeling nostalgic or overwhelmed by change. But change is no longer optional; it’s constant, rapid and shaping every part of our lives. 

 

In 1998, only 9% of UK households had internet access. By 2019, that number had soared to 93%. We’ve moved from local to global, from analogue to digital, in just one generation. 

 

For today’s students, this pace of change is even more profound. Chances are, the job that a child dreams of as they enter secondary school this September, may not even exist by the time they are ready to enter the workplace. Most won’t stick with one job for life, but will navigate six or seven career changes – each demanding a reinvention of their skills and mindset. 

 

By 2030, there will be 170 million new jobs, according to The Future of Jobs Report. But it also suggests that 92 million will have been displaced. A net growth, yes, but this is a shifting world.

 

So, what are the key skills that employers are likely to continue to look for? It isn’t about high grades or rote knowledge. Instead, creative and analytical thinking are identified by 70% of global employers as their most in-demand traits. In turn, our ability to ‘learn, unlearn and relearn,’ (Yuval Noah Harari in 21 Lessons for the 21^st Century) is now an essential survival skill.

 

Much of our ability to navigate all of this, will boil down to character.

 

As Head of Character at LWC, I’m often asked what it really means. Is it just about being kind, polite and diligent? Well, sure, those virtues matter. But more than that, character is the engine that powers adaptability. It’s an evolving understanding of who you are and who you’re becoming. 

 

In our schools, character isn’t taught from a textbook. It’s lived – through teamwork on the pitch, courage on the stage, responsibility in leadership or resilience in failure. Education at its best doesn’t only prepare young people for exams. It helps them to build a sense of self that they can carry into an unpredictably exciting future. 

 

Every decision our children make is a step in character formation. Whether it’s deciding to audition for the school musical or joining a school committee. It could be opting to enter the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race because of the resilience it teaches, as much as the adventure it brings. Choosing how to handle everyday situations is a chisel mark in the carving out of their character. When students see school as a space for personal growth, rather than a to-do list, something powerful happens.   

 

Back in my day, pastry scraps were a fine alternative to Play-Doh. But ‘fine’ doesn’t cut it anymore. In a world of constant change, it’s not just knowledge that counts, but knowing yourself. 

 

And that might just be the most important lesson of all.