At Seahaven Academy we believe it is essential to develop the whole child. Education with Character supports the school’s belief that every child should have the opportunity to develop academically while also developing their character.
What Is Character?
Character is not just what someone does, it is the inner qualities that shape how they feel, decide, and act day to day. Our work is influenced and guided by the work at the Jubilee Centre. The Jubilee Centre is a world-leading pioneering interdisciplinary research centre focussing on character, virtues and values in the interest of human flourishing.
According to the Jubilee Centre, character is a set of personal traits or dispositions that give rise to moral emotions, inform motivation, and guide conduct. In other words, character combines the feelings, reasons, and habits that lead people to do what is good, even when it is difficult.
The Jubilee Centre divides virtues (the building blocks of character) into four domains:
- Moral virtues (for example honesty, courage, integrity)
- Civic virtues (for example responsibility, respect, service)
- Intellectual virtues (for example curiosity, discernment, reflection)
- Performance virtues (for example perseverance, self-discipline, confidence)
At the heart of this framework is practical wisdom the capacity to balance and apply virtues well in real life.
Character is educable: we can develop it through experience, guidance, reflection, and habit. Our values provide us with a way to develop students both academically while also allowing them to reflect on their own character in order to become students who can leave Seahaven Academy as well rounded individuals with a strong sense of moral purpose.
Our Values: Kindness, Confidence and Ambition
Alongside the Jubilee Centre’s framework, we root our work in three core values that define our school community:
- Kindness: We expect and model compassion, respect, and care for others. Kindness builds trust, strengthens relationships, and creates a safe space where everyone feels they belong.
- Confidence: We nurture self-belief and the courage to speak, perform, and lead. Confidence helps our students share their voices, take opportunities, and face challenges with resilience.
- Ambition: We inspire high aspirations for learning and life. Ambition drives effort, perseverance, and the determination to achieve personal excellence while contributing positively to society.
These three values guide our daily practice and give students a simple, memorable way to understand what character means in action. We ensure we teach students out values through three key ways. We believe that character is caught, taught and sought.
Caught – what children see every day
- Staff lead by example, showing kindness, confidence and ambition in daily interactions
- A welcoming and respectful school culture helps children feel safe and valued
- Whole-school events and celebrations highlight the importance of effort, respect and achievement
Taught – what children learn in the classroom
- Lessons and tutor time weave in our school values and give space to talk about choices and character
- Subjects such as English, History and PSHE help children explore themes of fairness, resilience and responsibility
- Children are encouraged to grow in confidence through debate, presentation and classroom discussion
Sought – how children grow through experiences
- Leadership roles, volunteering and service opportunities help children step up and make a difference- this includes the student council and Leadership Teams.
- A wide range of clubs, trips and enrichment activities give space to develop confidence and ambition- this includes two days each year which we call our Values Days, the days allow students to engage with and participate in high quality enrichment activities which allow students to grow and thrive.
- Regular reflection with tutors encourages children to notice their strengths and set goals for personal growth.
Values Days
Values Days are special occasions in the school calendar where normal lessons are paused so that every child can focus on developing our core values of kindness, confidence and ambition. On these days, students take part in a wide range of activities from workshops and guest speakers to creative projects and team challenges — all designed to help them reflect on what the values mean in practice. By stepping out of their usual routines, children have the chance to think more deeply about their character, to try new experiences, and to see how our values can guide them in school, in relationships and in the wider community.