County’s first Values Education Conference for school children

Herefordshire Council is organising a conference for primary and secondary aged school children on values education.

Values education is about helping children become thinking, confident, responsible and caring citizens. For those schools who embrace the concept, positive core values such as respect and responsibility become the focus of the school with role modelling, discussion, debate and reflection being used to encourage positive behaviour, confidence and self-esteem.

To celebrate the work undertaken in schools so far and the county's recent Leading Aspect Award, a one-day conference has been organised specifically for the children from the schools who are part of the Values Steering Group. More than 60 children will be taking part at the event at Whitecross High School and Specialist Sports College on 14th November.

Throughout the day, children will get involved in a range of activities involving music and drama, and hear from a number of local inspirational speakers including Colin Jarvens about their own personal experiences. The theme of the day will be unity.

Children will be required to go back to school and share what they have learned with their friends by participating in their own values assembly at school.

Councillor Jenny Hyde, cabinet member for children and young people, said:
"Values education is absolutely essential if we want our children to grow to be confident young people who respect themselves and others. All our schools work hard to make sure our children get a range of experiences and understanding of the world around them, as well as the core reading and writing skills.

Our children deserve the best possible start in life, and it has been proved that threading core values throughout all school activities gives children and their families confidence and respect that stays with them for life. I hope the children enjoy the conference and are able to share what they learn with their schools."