SCHOOLS should be as much about building characters who can make a difference to their communities as good pass rates.

And one Forest school which has embraced the idea has been rewarded by becoming one of just a handful across the country to win the prestigious ‘Kitemark for Character Education’.

Five Acres High School has taken giant strides since adopting the ‘School Values’ programme of its administrator, the Greenshaw Learning Trust, a year ago, with pupils inspired by the chance to earn up to 45 gold, silver and bronze badges to wear on their blazers in the categories of ‘Ambition, Confidence, Creativity, Determination and Respect.”

Students at the school, which has more than 600 students, all carry a special log book with each category containing three sub-class challenges to win badges, and space to have the achievement signed by a member of staff, plus their own comments about what they did.

Headteacher Ian Frost said: “There’s something really distinctive here about the experience Five Acres children have. We want to get the balance right between academic success and building young people into great characters who can make a difference to society.

“In being awarded the School of Character Kitemark, Five Acres High School has been rightly recognised as a school valuing not only exceptional academic standards, but also for its thoughtful and caring approach to building character amongst its children and young people.

“We believe that all of our pupils aspire to make a real and genuine contribution in every aspect of school life and to their local community.

“Our pupils are proud of their achievements, and wear their badges celebrating their commitment to our values with pride.”

Assistant headteacher Rhiannon Rainbow, joint lead for the character education programme and director of Maths across the south-west group of Greenshaw Trust schools, adds: “We’re a pilot for the trust and it’s very exciting to be part of.

“It’s almost unprecedented to be given the opportunity to run such an inspiring programme. We’re one of only 14 in the country to be given the kitemark, administered by the Association of Character Education, which is a great honour.

“The badge scheme provides a journey. Students can have a focus right the way through their time here, and the booklet provides them with a record of their self-development.

“The pupils have really come on board and are owning it. Just look at them wearing the badges, they are so proud.

“When they go to interviews, they’re asked about them. They also get certificates, making a beautiful portfolio to take away with their GCSEs.

“The whole school is involved, pupils, teachers, admin and support staff, canteen staff – it’s brought everyone together in a real sense of community and pride.”

Badges can be won for many achievements, including in sport, music, art club, with some also linked to the school’s ‘Brilliant Club’, where university lecturers come in and teach small groups and students visit colleges for events.

Two golds under each section also wins a shield, usually presented by Mr Frost, where the winner explains how they won it and enjoyed the process.

“The Academia Badge under ‘Ambition’ is linked to developing the aspiration to go on to study A-Levels and then university, while the Futures Badge broadens that to those looking to go on and work after leaving us, through doing interviews with career advisers, an employer and producing a high quality CV,” says Mrs Rainbow.

“It’s not simply academic, it’s for everyone, helping give them good career opportunities.

“We’re giving breadth and exposure to all the avenues open to youngsters. We’re lifting their eyes to show them the great prospects out there.

“Ultimately, it’s about developing young people with the equipment to open doors in their lives.”

As part of the programme, the school is also raising the profile of character education through providing inspiring shared experiences.

“Cultural enrichment is incredibly important,” says Mr Frost. “Every Friday, 150 of the children from Years 7 and 8, along with teachers, all have choir singing with professional conductors, such as Bristol gospel choir leader Nigel Ipinson-Fleming.

“Singing is a really useful way of bringing people together and creating harmony, enjoyment and fun. It doesn’t matter whether you are a great singer or not, we get together and sing all sorts, from pop to church music and beyond.

“Individuals will take on parts of songs, and it’s empowering, with lots of applause. It’s all about creating positive experiences which help children enjoy school.

“We’ve also got really high participation rates for sports teams and success, but we also have the balance between success and participation. At the end of the school week, Year 11 stay behind and do a sports session with the teachers – it’s a really nice way to bond and let your hair down.”

Mrs Rainbow says the whole process is about inspiring youngsters, with 80 Year 7s performing at Gloucester Cathedral for the Greenshaw Trust’s carol service, where Finlay Powell was chosen as overall soloist among 400 children, and Chloe Tootell and Isla Steri O’Dell also had starring roles.

“Of course, they knew Harry Potter was filmed there as well, but they didn’t just visit, they performed there!”

“Our students also go off and do drama productions at places like Newport’s Riverside and Hereford Courtyard, with our Year 9 and 10s’ Romeo and Juliet workshop chosen to open the regional School Shakespeare Festival.

“As part of the Adventure Badge (Confidence), Year 7s stay at Viney Hill Christian centre and do outdoor pursuits within weeks of starting school. For some, it’s their first time away from home.

“It provides bonding and a sense of identity right from the start of their time here, and they get their first badge.

“That can lead onto the likes of Duke of Edinburgh and the Dartmoor Ten Tors Challenge, which the school did for the first time last year.

“The Confidence category also includes the Leadership Badge, with the gold being won by completing the ‘Leadership programme’, which also gives an SSAT standard leadership accreditation.”

As the “key to understanding”, literacy has a central place.

“Every class has tutor time reading to start the day, where a staff member reads a book to students for 30 minutes while they track the words,” says Mrs Rainbow. “They also have a log book, in which they put a little sticker of the book cover with comments when it is finished.

“Linked to our Literacy Badge, the booklet also promotes the ‘Greenshaw Reading Canon’, backed by our suggested reading list of 50 books per year. Read 10 and win a bronze, 25 silver, 50 gold. Every book read is logged and commented on.

“And we literally bookend the day with DEAR time – Drop Everything and Read – where students and teachers read their own books for half an hour. It’s so important – the ability to be able to read with confidence and understand means you can access everything and anything.”