Chiswick School wins recognition for its ‘character’ education

Image: Chiswick School students

Turning out students of good character as well as qualified for the world of work

Chiswick School has been recognised for providing ‘outstanding character education.’

Character education, part of students’ personal development as opposed to their academic development, means helping students develop personal traits, ‘virtues’ which enable them to develop good sense, or practical wisdom – the capacity to choose intelligently between alternatives.

The school has been awarded a Quality Mark by the Association for Character Education (ACE), an education charity which recognises schools’ commitment ‘to nurturing students of strong character and integrity.’

In practical terms it means encouraging critical thinking and encouraging virtues such as courage, justice, honesty, compassion, gratitude, humility, integrity, and respect.

It also entails civic virtues such as civility, service, citizenship, and volunteering, and personal traits that enable students to manage their lives effectively, such as resilience – the ability to bounce back from negative experiences – determination, confidence, and teamwork.

Two independent assessors from the Association spent a full day at Chiswick, engaging with students, staff, and a school governor to explore how character is ‘caught, taught, and sought’ across the school.

“The assessors were deeply impressed,’ said a spokesperson for Chsiwick School, “not only by the school’s clearly defined and thoughtfully implemented Character Curriculum, but also by the warm and inclusive ethos that underpins daily life at Chiswick.”

They described Chiswick as a happy community where students are empowered to flourish in every sense.

Miss Kitteringham, the school’s Character Education Lead, welcomed the school’s recognition by ACE, saying:

“This recognition marks a significant milestone in our journey. Building a culture of character has been a collective effort, and I couldn’t be prouder of our staff and students. It’s been an incredible team journey.”

The school spokesperson said:

“At Chiswick School, character education is not an add-on—it’s at the heart of everything we do. We believe that helping young people become kind, resilient, and responsible citizens is just as important as academic success. Our mission is to prepare students not only to succeed in school but to thrive in life.

“This national recognition affirms the school’s belief that when character is prioritised, students grow into the very best versions of themselves—ready to make a positive difference in the world.”

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