Green room debate: Is Damien Hinds' 'Five Foundations to Build Character' a positive new policy for drama teaching? 

Damien Hinds is preaching to the converted when it comes to persuading drama teachers of the importance of building ‘character’. We dedicate every day to strengthening pupil resilience, independence and wellbeing through the inherently practical and self-reflective nature of our subject.

My students often comment on how drama has helped them to feel more confident and build life skills. Through collaboration they learn generosity, kindness, trust, and many of the other principles that Hinds put such emphasis on in his recent speech at the Church of England Foundation for Leadership conference.

Therefore, it should come as a welcome announcement that our new Education Secretary plans to put character education centre stage, through sport, creativity, performing, volunteering and membership and the world of work. The emphasis on these ‘Five Foundations to Build Character’ should be a breath of fresh air in an education climate where it sometimes feels like STEM subjects are squeezing the arts into insignificance.