Centre Director in Discussion with Secretary of State for Education

Centre Director, Professor James Arthur, joined the Secretary of State for Education, Nicky Morgan MP, on a discussion panel on Monday 5th October 2015 during a fringe event at the Conservative Party Conference. The event, co-hosted by the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues and leading UK policy think tank DEMOS, aimed to address the question ‘How can Britain become a leader in character education?‘, with a particular focus on the ‘Character Nation‘ report produced by DEMOS in partnership with the Jubilee Centre. Nicky Morgan MP and Professor Arthur were joined by Lucy Frazer MP, Lord Chris Holmes, Ralph Scott (Head of Citizenship and Political Participation at DEMOS) and the session was chaired by Lord James O’Shaughnessy (Managing Director of Floreat Education). The panel discussed the importance of character education, how it is both caught and taught, the barriers faced by both teachers and schools in delivering character education and how these might be overcome. Nicky Morgan MP emphasised the role of a clear school ethos, one that runs throughout the curriculum, in providing the foundation for character education. Following contributions by each panel member, members of the audience engaged in the debate with questions posed to the panel about the role of parents in character education, the contribution youth social action can make to character education and the issue of measurement for determining the success of any character education initiatives.

The full programme for the event can be viewed here.

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Character Strengths for the Working World is an essential event for PSHE Leads, Careers Leads, and Character Education Leads within UK educational institutions. Join us on Thursday, 13th July 2023, from 9am to 5pm at the beautiful Botanical Gardens, Birmingham.

This one-day conference, organised byThe Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues at the University of Birmingham, aims to provide insights, knowledge, and networking opportunities for professionals committed to enhancing character development and employability skills in their students.

Our speakers will share their expertise and perspectives on educational policy and best practices for empowering students to excel in the working world through harnessing their character strengths. The event will include keynote speeches, policy and practitioner panels, interactive sessions, and opportunities to connect with a wide range of professionals and experts in the field.

Our line-up of distinguished speakers includes:

• Rt. Hon. Baroness Nicky Morgan (former Secretary of State for Education)

• Bec Tigue (Character Lead at the University of Birmingham School)

• David Harkin (CEO at 8 Billion Ideas)

• Adrian McLean (Character Ambassador and Multi-academy Trust Lead at Severn Academies)

• The Careers and Enterprise Company

Food and refreshments:

Morning coffee and pastries, lunch, afternoon tea, and a drinks reception will be provided as part of registration for you to enjoy.

Free resources:

There will be multiple free resources available for you to take away at this event. We will be launching a new workbook, based on research funded by the Society for Educational Studies, for use by careers guidance professionals and character educators to help students consider who they are, the character traits they aspire towards, and to align their career choices with this. We will also have multiple other free resources that educators can use within their practice based on over a decade of research at the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues.

Attendance is free, but spaces are limited. It is essential to reserve your place in advance to avoid disappointment. Don't miss out on this opportunity to elevate your institution's approach to character education and student employability. Register now to secure your spot at Character Strengths for the Working World.

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