The Director of Education, Dr Tom Harrison, gave a keynote address at the School North East Future Ready conference held in Newton Aycliffe on Thursday 4th February. The presentation demonstrated how character education theory and research can be successfully implemented in schools by teachers and is fundamental to young people being prepared for their futures. The address focused in particular on applied approaches to character education – including how character might be taught discreetly, as well as through and within other subjects. In the afternoon Tom also ran a workshop for primary school teachers focusing on teaching character through stories, and in particular, the Knightly Virtues and Thank You Letter Awards.