Teaching children how to be proactive through Champions Character — using movement, discussion, and the Champions Trifecta: Focus, Skill and Belief.[/caption]

Character development in schools plays a vital role in helping children grow into confident, respectful, and emotionally aware young people. At Champions Character, we work alongside schools and teachers to reinforce the values, language, and personal development learning already taking place — supporting children as they learn how to manage emotions, behaviour, and everyday challenges.

Schools and teachers already do an incredible job supporting children — academically, socially, and emotionally. What we aim to do is work alongside that, reinforcing key messages children are already learning and helping bring those ideas to life in a memorable, practical way.

Supporting Children With Language They Can Use

Children are constantly learning about behaviour, relationships, and responsibility — in lessons, through school values, and in everyday interactions.

What we have found is that children benefit greatly when:

- ideas are given clear, simple language

- concepts are repeated consistently

- learning is experienced, not just discussed

This is where Champions Character fits naturally into the school environment.

We help children put words to ideas they are already exploring — particularly around choice, self-control, and responsibility.

Being Proactive: A Shared Message

One of the core ideas we focus on is being proactive.

For children, this means understanding that:

- they won’t always control what happens around them

- but they can always make choices about how they respond

To make this idea accessible and memorable, we use a simple concept called:

“Flick the Switch”

It helps children visualise the moment between something happening and how they choose to respond — whether in the classroom, on the playground, or at home.

This supports:

- emotional regulation

- self-management

- positive behaviour choices

All of which are already key priorities within PSHE and personal development.

The Champions Trifecta: Focus, Skill and Belief

Everything we deliver in schools links back to what we call the Champions Trifecta:

Focus

Helping children listen, concentrate, and stay present

Skill

Developing practical life skills such as self-control, communication, and emotional awareness

Belief

Building confidence through encouragement, repetition, and success

These are not new ideas for schools — they are ideas teachers work on every day. Our sessions simply provide another way for children to experience and practise them.

Our aim is to support character development in schools by giving children simple, memorable language they can use in real-life situations.

Using the Engagement of Martial Arts — Not Teaching It

It’s important to be clear:

Champions Character taught in schools is not a martial arts programme.

There is:

- no fighting

- no sparring

- no contact

We use the engagement, structure, and fun of martial arts-inspired activities to support learning — much like schools use sport, drama, or group discussion to reinforce personal development.

The focus is always on:

- character

- behaviour

- mindset

How We Support Schools

We work flexibly with schools, depending on what best suits their setting:

Assemblies

Introducing whole-school language around choice, responsibility, and behaviour

Class Sessions

Interactive lessons where children explore being proactive together and receive a certificate recognising their understanding

9-Week Character Courses

A structured programme that reinforces shared language over time and supports PSHE outcomes in a consistent, age-appropriate way

Each option is designed to fit alongside existing school values and curriculum priorities.

Character Development in Schools and PSHE Alignment

Our sessions support areas already highlighted within national guidance, including:

- emotional regulation and self-management

- responsibility and resilience

- respectful behaviour and relationships

They align closely with guidance from:

- the PSHE Association 👉https://www.pshe-association.org.uk

- the Department for Education

- and Ofsted’s focus on personal development, behaviour, and attitudes, as outlined by Ofsted

Respect, Relationships, and Responsibility

There is currently increased focus nationally on helping children understand respect and healthy relationships.

We fully support this direction and believe the underlying principle is simple and universal:

Everyone deserves respect.

By teaching children about choice, responsibility, and emotional control, we help reinforce the idea that:

- how we act affects others

- respectful behaviour is a daily choice

- self-control and empathy go hand in hand

Again, this is about supporting messages schools are already teaching, not introducing something new or separate.

Character Comes First

At Champions Character, everything comes back to one question:

Who is this child becoming because of this?

By working alongside schools, we aim to:

- reinforce positive behaviour

- give children language they can use

- support teachers with engaging, values-led sessions

Character comes first — and when children understand that, everything else becomes easier to build.

If you feel this approach would support the work already happening in your child’s school, you’re very welcome to share this post with their teacher or school. We’re always happy to have conversations about how Champions Character can sit alongside existing values and PSHE learning — and who knows, we may even find ourselves visiting your school one day, bringing our “Flick the Switch” experiment to help bring these ideas to life in the classroom.

— Master T — The Karate Kid Teacher

One More Thing
Character Comes First

Your child becomes like the people they spend time with.
Choose the tribe that builds them up.