The Values and Character Dispositions of 14-16 Year Olds in the Hodge Hill Constituency

Citizens of Character

The Values and Character Dispositions of 14-16 Year Olds

Summary

Citizens of Character explores the attitudes, dispositions and values of 14-16 year old
students in the six schools of the Hodge Hill constituency in Birmingham. It is one of five
linked projects which between them cover all phases of education from early years
through to Higher Education and into employment.

This project goes beyond the normal exploration and measurement of strengths of
character in individuals and looks at what builds character in families and schools. This
research has wider implications for the relationship between character and aspirations,
social change, school cultures, citizenship, identity and religion.

Background

Whilst there is a connection between individual character and civic life it is important to
acknowledge that schools constitute only one element in a student’s environment. Indeed
the most influential source of guidance in promoting character development is parental,
the mother being especially important. A lack of public institutions in Hodge Hill means
that there are few places available for the cultivation of a common citizenship or a sense
of shared life. Opportunities to exercise civic and social virtues such as leadership,
volunteering, courage, charity, toleration, and respect are extremely limited.

Students in this sample live in one of the most socially and economically deprived areas
in the UK; many of them come from underprivileged backgrounds. The local community
provides very few public amenities to stimulate the development of character skills, with
few public libraries, community centres, youth clubs or sporting facilities accessible to
young people.

Key Findings

From all the evidence gathered in this project - interviews, questionnaires, written
reflections - there is an overwhelming sense that these students are concerned about
values and character and about the quality of their communities and the society in which
they are growing up.

The key findings of this research include:

• The main outcome of this study is the overwhelming sense that these students are
concerned about values and about society (p34, p124—Q57a-f; p122—Q11,
p124—Q43).

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