Exeter School hosts inaugural Education Festival

Exeter School hosted its first Education Festival on Monday 20 February 2023. Head, Louise Simpson was delighted to welcome educators from across the region to “EdFest23: Educating for Character”.

EdFest is an annual conference that convenes educators from across the region to connect with colleagues; this year the theme was Educating for Character, and delegates had the opportunity to engage in important conversations around the development of character in our pupils, the importance of our schools in supporting character education, and how supporting character education is a way to help pupils to flourish, both in school and in life beyond.

The day featured a diverse range of distinguished and knowledgeable speakers; with workshops from former British Paralympian Claire Harvey MBE, Exeter alumna and anti-racism strategist and consultant Maia Thomas (2010-2017), and Director of Schools, Engagement and Partnership at The Association of Character Education, Andrew Pettit. These workshops explored how character can be used to shape school culture, how we can embed character into the curriculum, and how we can give pupils opportunities to serve their local community. A common link throughout the day was that now, perhaps more than ever, we should be putting emphasis on character in all spheres of the education journey.

Keynote addresses were made by former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buckingham Sir Anthony Seldon who spoke about how characterful teachers and characterful schools can impart character to pupils. As well as delivering a workshop, Andrew Pettit gave his audience the tools needed to create a framework for character. Head of Cobham Free School and Exeter School Alumna, Michaela Khatib, chatted about setting up the hugely successful free school, from humble beginnings to one of the most oversubscribed schools in Surry.

And finally, CEO of Cats Protection and former global Secretary General of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award John May inspired delegates to believe there is more in us than we think.

Louise Simpson, Head of Exeter School, and conference chair commented “We were privileged to have such distinguished and knowledgeable speakers with us, from a range of diverse backgrounds, all with a common belief in the importance of building character in young people.”