Schools

• Schools should aim to create a supportive environment where values are a natural part of everyday life. This includes regularly reviewing how well the school culture aligns with the curriculum’s intended values and addressing any mismatches.

• Schools should provide opportunities for teachers to discuss how wider social or cultural values influence their teaching and develop strategies to handle these influences.

• Schools should provide opportunities for teachers and support staff to discuss and learn about values and their applications in and outside of the classroom.

• Schools should also set rules of behaviour that is related to desired values, such as supportive behaviour, as we found that values develop in line with earlier behaviour patterns.

• By encouraging a positive school climate that balances stability with curiosity and collaboration, schools can ensure that values are reinforced not only in the classroom but also in playtime, assemblies, and extracurricular activities.

Teachers

• Teachers can bring values education to life by incorporating them into everyday lessons and activities. For example, group projects can encourage fairness and collaboration, while independent assignments can foster curiosity and creativity.

• Teachers can demonstrate values like kindness, fairness, and curiosity through their actions. By acting as a role model, teachers show students what these principles look like in real life.

• Teachers should reflect on the importance of framing classroom activities and rules in a manner that reinforces positive values while avoiding the accidental promotion of less-beneficial values. For example, teachers can frame academic achievement as a celebration of personal effort rather than a celebration of competitiveness.

• Teachers should consider behaviour when discussing values. Foster behaviour that aligns with desired values, as well as values that align with desired behaviour.

• Making space for classroom discussions about different values, including how they vary across cultures, can also help students appreciate diversity and develop their own value system.