Cheam awarded ‘School of Character’ Quality Mark making it the first stand-alone Prep School to be recognised

The award, provided by the Association for Character Education (ACE) recognises the quality of learning, values-driven cultural environment and personal development programme made available to all pupils within the Cheam School community.

The commitment of the leadership team, namely Annabel Billinger, Head of Character, along with Headmaster, Nick Milbank, and Deputy Head Academic, Hugo Fildes, 'has been instrumental in ensuring that character development is becoming an integral part of the school’s drive to create a school community which seeks to ensure the development of strong character and academic success in equal measure for all students, regardless of aptitude or ability.' [ACE written evaluation, March 2025]
Alongside academic excellence, Cheam is committed to delivering a high-quality character programme at every stage of school life. From ‘Independent Owl’ and ‘Helping Hands’ in Pre-Prep, to deepening this understanding with the 6Rs of Character, including Respect, Resilience and Responsibility, in Prep.

Character education at Cheam is not treated as a separate initiative but as a guiding philosophy that is woven into the fabric of the school. It serves as the foundation upon which the school’s academics, pastoral care, and co-curricular activities are built. The Cheam Diploma was introduced in 2023 by Annabel Billinger and Hugo Fildes, as a means to encourage children to become more self-reflective. By developing essential skills for learning, the Diploma supports students in achieving greater success both academically and in other aspects of school life and beyond. 

As written in the evaluation, 'The assessors were impressed with the confidence and commitment of the students, and their ability to reflect individually on their personal character journeys and how it was impacting on their personal growth was outstanding.'


Since the introduction of the Cheam Diploma, the school’s broader Character Education provision has gone from strength to strength. The momentum has been driven by Cheam’s ‘whole school’ approach, with an emphasis on role modelling by staff who live the core values day-to-day. Character Education isn’t confined to life within the school gates, Cheam work with parents to create a shared understanding of the core character values, ensuring consistency in their development, whether at school or at home.

Annabel Billinger, Head of Character, says 'Here at Cheam, we believe that every child has the potential to grow into a positive, upstanding citizen. Our mission is to help them become the very best version of themselves by focusing on our key values “curious minds, kind hearts, and community spirit.” We encourage our children to embrace these values, not just as pupils, but as human beings who will contribute meaningfully to the world around them.'

Annabel Billinger

Cheam’s vision is for every child to leave the school equipped with the character to thrive in life. By fostering meaningful relationships and prioritising personal growth, Cheam ensures every student develops the skills and values needed to succeed both in and beyond the classroom.

https://www.cheamschool.co.uk/about-us/character-education/

April 2025