How steady are our children able to hold their moral compasses?

As we strive to raise awareness in the children, Anti-Bullying Week offers us all a chance to be self-critical as we take time to reflect on how we treat others. With all that is going on around the world, it has struck me more than ever that our desire to protect the precious Vinehall bubble of childhood has never been more important.

On Monday the children descended on school in their odd socks, parading down the drive with anti-bullying chants and noisy instruments, and their enthusiasm for life and their natural and genuine capacity for empathy were a delight to witness.

As my Year 8s have suggested, perhaps the qualities of childish naivety should be revisited by our world leaders? Children often demonstrate a remarkable and innate sense of morality, showcasing a strong moral compass. Even before they fully grasp complex ethical concepts, children tend to exhibit an instinctive understanding of right and wrong. Observing fairness, kindness and cooperation, children absorb these values and incorporate them into their own actions and decisions. Their ability to empathise with others contributes to the development of a moral framework, allowing them to act in ways that align with a basic sense of fairness and justice.

The Vinehall Values of Kindness and Respect allow for the continued growth of their moral reasoning as they navigate the complexities of the world around them. We are teaching them to grip their moral compasses very tightly indeed and to stay true to the direction in which they wish to travel.