We know, however, that a good life does not result from the intellect alone. No, our heart—the centre of our affections and motivations—tends to be the loudest voice, as it were, in our inner board rooms. If we love something, if we admire something—then we will be pulled into its orbit.

Research on character education suggests that students tend to become like the adults they admire. In other words, the embodiment of honesty, integrity or humility in a real person—not just as abstract concepts—is what makes those virtues contagious.

On this basis, we are so thankful to work with our Partner Organisations—wonderful charities, social enterprises, and not-for-profits—whose contributions to the community are shining examples of service and compassion. The people who run them are exactly the models of character we want for our students.

As part of Barker’s Character and Enterprise program, our students will continue to work with their chosen Partner Organisation all year to design an innovation which will enhance their social impact.

Little by little, as they practise seeing the world through the eyes of their Partner Organisations, we hope our students’ hearts will be increasingly inclined to care more about others.

And along the way, we hope they will develop habits of Enterprise which will make them contributors rather than consumers—determined to build and better the world they have inherited.

Click to read more about our Wise Heads, Loving Hearts, Useful Hands education framework.