Character Development

Our Core Purpose

At DBS, our core purpose is to ensure that every child and young adult who walks through our doors gains as much as possible from their experience here. We believe that all learners can, need, and want to achieve.

We therefore provide the highest standards of teaching and learning, alongside strong support for character development. Our aim is for every student to complete their education at DBS as a well-rounded individual.

 Character development is central to our work — it is intrinsic to everything we do and reflects the values that define our school community.

 

Respect
Treat others with kindness and consideration, even when you disagree.
Listen to your classmates’ ideas, even if you think they are wrong.

 

Honesty and Integrity
Tell the truth and keep your word, even when it’s difficult.
Admit mistakes and take steps to correct them.

 

Inquisitiveness
Stay curious and eager to learn new things.
Ask questions in class and explore topics independently.

 

Community Spirit
Work together with others to achieve shared goals.
Volunteer your time or take part in school activities that support others.

 

Resilience
Bounce back from setbacks and challenges.
Persevere and try again when faced with difficulties.

 

Confidence
Believe in yourself and your abilities.
Express your ideas clearly and take risks with courage.

 

Motivation and Ambition
Have a strong desire to achieve your goals.
Set high standards for yourself and work hard to reach them.

 

 

 

 

 

The DBS Way

Our Responsibility for Character Development

 

Our Responsibility for Character Development:

• Encouraging students to understand, value, and demonstrate the positive behavioural traits that help them become well-rounded, grounded citizens.
• Developing the skills needed to function effectively in, and contribute positively to, society.
• Supporting the social and emotional growth of young people — helping them to understand themselves, recognise their strengths and weaknesses, and work to improve the latter.
• Instilling a strong moral compass to guide how they interact with others and interpret behaviour.

 

How We Embed Character Development

We embed our approach to character development across the curriculum, particularly through the Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) and Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) programmes.

• Assemblies and Tutor Time : House and Year Group assemblies, as well as tutor time and other lessons, are used to reinforce the values and behaviours promoted by the DBS Way.
• Teaching and Learning: The way subjects are taught — for example, rewarding effort as well as achievement — helps foster positive attitudes towards learning and personal growth.
• House Systems and Rewards: Our House systems, alongside reward and award schemes, recognise and celebrate the demonstration of key character traits.
• Extra-Curricular Activities: A wide range of extra-curricular opportunities, including sports, clubs, trips, and special events such as Health and Wellbeing Weeks and award ceremonies, explicitly and implicitly promote character development beyond the classroom.
• Leadership and Responsibility: School councils, leadership roles, and charity initiatives provide valuable opportunities to build leadership, empathy, and self-esteem.
• Employability and Career Readiness: In our secondary schools, employability is developed through sessions with careers advisers, careers fairs, and work experience programmes.
• Targeted Support: Additional support includes mentoring, group sessions focused on building friendships and managing stress, study skills workshops, mediation, mindfulness, and counselling.
• Parent Engagement: We actively engage parents in supporting our approach through newsletters, promotional materials, parents’ evenings, and special celebratory events.