Principles
Children build their understanding of how to live in communities based on the behaviours and interactions they experience in their childhood. Education partially shapes their views and the cultures they will carry with them to the future. Our children’s capacities to generate personal and societal wellbeing in the future are directly shaped by the system of education we provide for them throughout their childhood.
Our education system has a direct influence on the future health of society, in terms of dissemination of knowledge/understanding and on the harmoniousness of its future culture. Education should incorporate explicit objectives relating to developing understanding and experiences of human interaction that support the future wellbeing of individuals and society.
Implementation
The Inclusivity Project supports a values-based system of education that invites schools to adopt a transformational approach to its Curriculum, by raising awareness of the values that drive the school’s activities, and the environment in which students spend a significant proportion of their time. It provides its students with the first-hand experience of trustworthy communities driven by positive universal values, such as respect, empathy, togetherness, patience and joy.
- Values-based Education
A different approach to education that achieves cultural transformation. It is an approach in which positive, universal values are modelled and taught to students, developing students’ interpersonal and pro-social capacities. - Research
Research and articles relating to the impact of VbE
Third-party Implementation
Many projects provide support for developing students’ wellbeing capacity. A few examples are set out below.
- Philosophy for Children (listening and evaluative skills)
- Mindfulness in Schools (mindfulness skills)
- Votes for Schools (political and assertiveness skills)
Cultural Impact
The outcomes of schools that help students to develop wellbeing capacities: quality schools, happy, motivated staff and pupils; a high level of wellbeing and resilience, which contribute to sustainability and prosperity.
| School | Pupil | Society | |
| Academic | Improves academic diligence. | Empowers pupils to concentrate, work together and get the most from their learning. | Produces well-educated pupils. |
| Social | High degree of relational trust between staff and pupils. | Good relationship with self and others, with the capacities to realise their potential | Good relationship with self and others, with the capacities to realise their potential. Well-adjusted contributing members of society, well equipped for the workplace. |
| Moral | Positive school culture and ethos that empowers harmony, enabling the pupil and the whole school community to flourish. | Each pupil discovers their authentic self; is empowered by an understanding of a universal narrative based on positive human values. | Peace. Pupils have an altruistic, compassionate attitude to others and contribute to the sustainability of our world. |