West Horndon Primary School

Commando Joe's

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Endorsed by Sir Ranulph Fiennes (the "world's greatest living explorer"), the unique character education curriculum is designed to ensure every child reaches their full potential.

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Based on the lives of real-life adventurers and explorers, such as Sir Ranulph and Tim Peake,

Pupils learn about a different hero or heroine over each term, with practical and mental tasks to complete based on their adventures.

Each lesson is structured to give pupils the character tools and values they need to be successful in life such as resilience, determination, empathy, and courage.

Lessons are supported with “field report” films featuring Commando Joe, developed by a Bafta-winning animation company. Plus, a whole website of dedicated resources, support, celebration and reflection materials tools.

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‘There is growing evidence showing that developing character traits in young people can help them achieve and develop’

Character Education is at the heart of successful learning, acting as a foundation for both personal achievement and interpersonal relationships.

Creating the right environment for young people to develop positive character behaviours (traits) will enable them to respond well to challenges they face. Cooperating and learning with their peers in a safe environment, taking on enjoyable, relevant activities, will enable young people to make the right choices, supporting them in everyday life inside and outside school.

Central to the success of the COJO Character Curriculum is the effective use of relevant military ethos and values – where commitment, honesty, adaptability and courage are a pre requisite for the quality and success of all teams and people within them.

It is important to note that character is not a ‘one size fits all’ concept as it is the combination of behaviour traits that sets each person apart. How each school chooses to deliver the programme and integrate it across the curriculum, in a way best suited to both children and staff, will be critical to the programme’s impact and success. The COJO Character for Learning programme will: Provide a great foundation on which all children will get the chance to achieve, be resilient, tolerate others and make great choices for life - in and outside school.

This will be achieved through children:

Accessing coherent, sequential learning
Being inspired to do their best and have ambition to achieve
Leading and being led to achieve outcomes
Engaging in deep thinking to support their decision-making and action(s)
Experiencing a wide range of relevant and exciting activity

The character behaviour traits are divided into 7 categories linked to the COJO Character Curriculum programme’s central character – RESPECT. They include moral, performance, intellectual and relevant military behaviour traits that should not be seen as separate but be integrated to contribute to a child’s character learning and development.