Building Haberdasher students
Our aspiration is to empower young people from every background to fulfil their potential. Here’s how the Haberdashers’ Character programme supports that ambition:
The Haberdashers’ Character programme of initiatives is designed to promote confidence, broaden horizons and develop the life-skills and attributes that we want a Haberdasher pupil to walk away with when they leave one of our schools. It includes extra-curricular activities, trips, competitions, performances and leadership development for our student leaders.
This programme also seeks to recognise the talents of pupils and help them develop further, beyond academics. Haberdashers’ Character provides opportunities to perform music at world famous venues, display artwork at Haberdashers’ Hall and utilise state of the art sports facilities, with an evolving programme to respond to the demand from schools.
HABERDASHERS' CHARACTER
Character Events
The core principle of the Character programme is “Once a Haberdasher always a Haberdasher.” We want students to feel part of an active, wider Haberdasher community which includes present (and past) students and staff as well as Company members.
This is our opportunity to articulate shared principles of integrity, mutual respect, giving back to society, aspiration and community. By creating opportunities for young people we help to build their confidence and a wider sense of their place in the world.
The first step is to introduce younger students to the history and current day activity of the Company. It is very important that, from the first, students feel welcome and appreciated by the Haberdashers’ community. Each year 1400 Year 7 (11/12-year-old) students spend a living history day at Haberdashers’ Hall. Our Year 6 pupil leaders visit each September for a leadership day where as well as developing their communication and teamwork skills they have the chance to make friends across the school groups.
Throughout their time at school, Haberdasher students have opportunity to take part in sporting and cultural events – tournaments for rugby, netball and athletics and sports and music competitions and festivals. For the first time in 2025 the annual music festival was held at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama’s Milton Court, with over 300 students from nine Haberdasher schools taking part.
In 2024 a new annual art celebration was introduced. Students whose work was nominated to be displayed at Haberdashers’ Hall were invited to take part in workshops with professional artists connected with the Company and hear from a wider group of members and former students working in the arts. Students from primary and secondary settings worked collaboratively on a large installation, as well as creating individual works reflecting on themes of identity. The day culminated in a grand opening of the winning choice of artwork with students, parents, school and trust leadership and Haberdashers in attendance.
The Character programme also includes an annual event for our Year 12 pupil leaders to help them develop the leadership skills they need, first to excel as Head Girls/Boys and Prefects, and later to build successful careers. This event represents the best that the Company can provide for young people and keeps us close to how young leaders think and how we can respond to their needs and ideas. Young people meet successful leaders from charity, services, professional and business contexts and work on team building, problem solving , communication and presentation skills.
School staff who have attended this event praised the “buzz in the room”, and described “A superb event, never a dull moment” and “Overriding sense of compassionate nurturing. Fantastic children. Optimistic. Very informative.”
HABERDASHERS' CHARACTER