Upper Sixth explore character and human flourishing with Dr Jon Beale

We warmly welcomed Dr Jon Beale, a Teaching and Research Fellow at the Oxford Character Project, to our Upper Sixth lecture this week. A researcher, writer and high-performance coach with a particular interest in philosophy and education, Jon’s experience and insights offered an inspiring perspective on Human Flourishing, the theme of this year’s Cross-Curricular Week.

Good character underpins ethical and effective leadership, and the Oxford Character Project’s mission is to cultivate a new generation of wise thinkers and principled leaders who can support human flourishing across government, business and civil society. This was an excellent starting point for our Upper Sixth to consider their own personal qualities as they prepare for the next stage of their education, development and growth.

Exploring the essence of character, Jon explained the research behind and the benefits of seeking states of FLOW and why the optimum balance of challenge and engagement promotes happiness, success and personal development. This was especially helpful for our pupils who are in the final stages of university applications and working towards their A Levels, as well as engaged in a number of pursuits outside the classroom. He offered practical, easy-to-implement advice on self-reflection and how to identify the ideal amount of challenge and comfort in tasks to enable continuous, measurable growth in all spheres of life. Pupils were encouraged to reflect on their own enthusiasms and experiences to unlock the capacity to realise their full potential.

A huge thank you to Jon for a thought-provoking and inspiring talk, which encouraged pupils to channel their energies wisely and to reflect carefully on the kind of people, as well as the kind of leaders, they already are and aspire to become.