Character development is not something that can be taught in isolation; it must be nurtured consistently across the whole school journey. From early years through to adolescence, children benefit from structured opportunities to practice leadership, problem-solving, and collaboration. Embedding character education across all stages of schooling helps build confidence, supports wellbeing, and prepares young people for both school and life beyond the classroom.
Yet in many schools, the focus on character is uneven. Early years and primary pupils often receive general pastoral support, while secondary schools concentrate on exams and academic attainment. This leaves key transition points, particularly the move from primary to secondary, vulnerable to disengagement, confidence dips, and social challenges.
Lead The Way, Commando Joe’s programme for Key Stage 3, and the upcoming Unstoppable You initiative for EYFS, Key Stages 1 and 2, are designed to address this gap. Together, they offer a continuous, school-wide approach to developing character, leadership, and resilience from the very start of a child’s education through to the critical early years of secondary school.
Why Leadership Matters in KS3
In today’s schools, leadership is often associated with senior prefects, head boys and girls, or student councils. While these roles play an important part, they represent just a small fraction of pupils. Every young person has the potential to lead, if given the right opportunities.
Early secondary years are critical for shaping confidence, resilience, and self-perception. Pupils in Years 8 and 9 are testing independence, navigating complex social situations, and beginning to consider their identity inside and outside school. When schools channel this energy into purposeful leadership opportunities, the impact on behaviour, engagement, and attainment can be significant.
Lead The Way, a programme from Commando Joe’s, is designed to close this gap. It gives Year 8 and 9 pupils structured leadership training, real-world practice, and nationally recognised AQA Unit Award Scheme accreditation. Meanwhile, younger pupils (Year 6) benefit from peer mentoring, building confidence and relationships that ease the transition to secondary school.
For schools seeking to strengthen personal development, grow confident learners, and meet Ofsted expectations around character and SMSC, this is leadership made practical, purposeful, and sustainable.
The Case for KS3 Leadership
Why focus on Years 8 and 9? These year groups can feel like the “forgotten middle.” Year 7 receives pastoral attention as the new cohort, while Years 10 and 11 face exam pressures. Without distinctive focus, disengagement or behaviour issues can creep in.
A study by the National Foundation for Educational Research found that schools often report dips in engagement and motivation around Year 9. Conversely, schools that provide structured leadership opportunities in KS3 report higher confidence, stronger relationships, and more positive school cultures.
Structured leadership in KS3 helps pupils:
- Develop resilience, problem-solving, and teamwork.
- Improve communication, organisation, and self-reflection.
- Gain recognition for achievements beyond the classroom, through programmes like the AQA Unit Award Scheme.
By making leadership a whole-cohort opportunity rather than a selective privilege, schools ensure every pupil experiences responsibility, clear communication, and reflection. Leadership becomes practical, inclusive, and embedded in everyday school life.
Commando Joe’s: Experience You Can Trust
For over a decade, Commando Joe’s has delivered high-quality character education programmes to schools across the UK, supporting pupils, staff, and entire school communities. From the Highlands of Scotland to the South Coast of England, our team has worked with hundreds of schools, tailoring programmes to meet local needs while maintaining a consistent focus on leadership, resilience, and personal development.
Awards & Recognition:
- Company of the Year at the MAT Excellence Awards.
- Shortlisted for Product of the Year for innovative programmes like Let’s Play.
- Recognised nationally as a leading character education provider, trusted to deliver programmes that meet Ofsted expectations and evidence measurable pupil impact.
This track record means that Lead The Way is built on years of expertise and practical experience. Schools can be confident they are investing in a programme that works, is evidence-based, and delivers sustainable outcomes.
“We know that leadership is not just for the few at the top — every pupil has potential. Lead The Way gives them the tools and support to realise it.”
— Dan Kelly, Managing Director, Commando Joe’s
“We are proud to have fully embedded Commando Joe’s across both our primary and secondary schools as part of our commitment to high-quality character education. Using their full suite of resources to support PSHE, RSE, and the promotion of our core values through engaging, mission-based learning, the programme plays a vital role in building empathy, leadership, teamwork, and real-world resilience in our pupils.
As a trust, we’ve not only implemented Commando Joe’s as a central part of our King’s Adventure strategy, but have also actively supported the development of their exciting new “Lead the Way” programme, launching this October. This innovative addition strengthens the delivery of the Gatsby Benchmarks, provides clear curriculum links, and enables us to evidence meaningful character progression through real-life, values-driven experiences which help our young people flourish and become confident, successful citizens.”
Andrew Reay, Chief Operating & Strategic Officer, Great Schools Trust
Expanding the Portfolio: Unstoppable You
To complement Lead The Way, Commando Joe’s is launching Unstoppable You in 2026. Designed for EYFS, Key Stage 1 and 2 pupils, this programme introduces children to character education through 147 interactive missions, each built around the RESPECT framework: Resilience, Empathy, Self-awareness, Passion, Excellence, Communication, and Teamwork.
Through storytelling, practical challenges, and structured reflection, Unstoppable You nurtures essential traits from the very start of a pupil’s journey. It helps children set strong foundations for learning and life, so that by the time they reach secondary school, they already have the confidence, empathy, and resilience to thrive. For schools, it offers a flexible, digital-first resource that can be embedded across the curriculum, supporting behaviour, wellbeing, and attainment. Together with Lead the Way, it ensures Commando Joe’s character curriculum spans the whole school journey.
The Commando Joe’s Platform: Supporting Schools Every Step of the Way
At the heart of both Lead the Way and Unstoppable You is the Commando Joe’s platform, a digital-first, flexible platform designed to make character education accessible, consistent, and easy to implement.
The platform provides:
- Interactive lesson plans and missions: Teachers can access step-by-step guidance for delivering activities across all year groups, aligned with the RESPECT framework
- Digital tracking and reporting: Staff can monitor pupil progress, celebrate achievements, and produce reports for governors, Ofsted, and parents
- Supporting materials: Videos, activity guides, reflection prompts, and mission scenarios provide everything schools need to deliver engaging, hands-on character education without adding to staff workload
- Flexible delivery: Schools can embed character education during PSHE, assemblies, enrichment time, or practical sessions, in a way that suits their timetable and priorities
- Professional development: CPD modules and guidance strengthen teacher confidence and skills in delivering character and leadership education
By bringing both programmes onto a single platform, schools can provide a continuous character education pathway. Pupils engage with interactive missions, track personal growth, and experience a cohesive approach that links resilience and leadership development at every stage of their school journey.
Leadership in Action: Lead The Way
True leadership is not about titles, it is about influence, responsibility, and reflection. In KS3 classrooms or playgrounds, leadership can be as simple as:
- Organising a team during a challenge.
- Encouraging quieter voices to contribute.
- Taking initiative when a group feels stuck.
- Reflecting on what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve next time.
These small actions build resilience, collaboration, and problem-solving skills — essential for life beyond school. Employers increasingly cite these “soft skills” as crucial, and Ofsted recognises them as central to personal development. Pupils who see themselves as leaders develop confidence to take charge in group work, extracurricular activities, or community initiatives.
Lead The Way operates on three principles: train, lead, reflect.
- Young Leaders (Year 8 & 9): Receive structured leadership training, learn to plan and deliver activities, mentor younger pupils, and earn AQA Unit Award accreditation.
- Young Learners (Year 6): Benefit from peer mentoring, building confidence and easing transition.
- School Staff Ambassadors: Oversee delivery, coordinate training, champion pupil achievement, and align programmes with school priorities.
- Commando Joe’s Team: Provide training, supply equipment packs, manage AQA accreditation, and support quality assurance.
Example Missions:
- Seeing Clearly to Reach the Goal – Teamwork & Communication: Pupils navigate a simulated emergency in the dark, with older pupils guiding blindfolded teammates.
- The Expert in Anything Was Once a Beginner – Resilience & Communication: Teams retrieve “emergency battery packs” using ropes, mentored by older pupils.
- Communication Comes in Many Forms – Empathy & Excellence: Pupils send messages using Morse code, practising non-verbal and written communication.
Across missions, KS3 pupils gain confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills; younger pupils benefit from structured mentoring; schools see improved behaviour, engagement, and culture.
Real Outcomes
Young Leaders (Years 8 & 9): Confidence, self-awareness, leadership ability, teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and nationally recognised accreditation.
Young Learners (Year 6): Confidence, resilience, communication skills, smoother secondary transition, and engagement in structured activities.
Schools: Stronger cross-phase links, culture of responsibility and collaboration, reduced behaviour incidents, evidence for Ofsted, and support for staff workload.
“Having the Year 8 leaders guide us through missions made me feel ready for secondary school. They explained everything, helped me take part, and made it fun!”
— Year 6 pupil
Staff Benefits: Reduced pastoral workload, CPD opportunities, curriculum alignment, detailed reporting, and embedded leadership culture.
Why Now?
Schools face unprecedented pressures: rising behaviour concerns, fragile attendance, and staffing challenges. Leaders are tasked with raising standards while supporting wellbeing, resilience, and character development.
Developing leadership and character education is essential. At primary level, Unstoppable You embeds the RESPECT framework early, building resilience, empathy, and confidence. At secondary level, Lead the Way provides structured leadership opportunities, practical experience, and nationally recognised accreditation, while supporting Year 6 pupils through transition.
Together, the programmes create a joined-up pathway from early years to adolescence. Pupil-led learning multiplies benefits: children grow in confidence, KS3 pupils develop leadership skills, schools see cultural shifts, and staff workload is supported. AQA accreditation and measurable outcomes give clear evidence to share with governors, parents, and inspectors.
This is not a short-term initiative; it embeds character and leadership into the heart of school life, nurturing cross-year relationships, supporting transition, and preparing pupils for learning, work, and life.
Forward-Looking Leadership
Leadership skills learned through Lead the Way go beyond school. Pupils develop responsibility, communication, and reflection skills, preparing them for future study, work, and community engagement. Schools embedding leadership in KS3 create a pipeline of confident young people who can mentor, lead initiatives, and contribute positively to society.
Leadership Starts Here
With Unstoppable You, primary pupils set the foundations of character through RESPECT. With Lead the Way, KS3 pupils put these skills into practice through structured training, mentoring younger peers, and achieving nationally recognised accreditation.
Together, these programmes create a continuous character and leadership pathway, ensuring education is not a one-off intervention but a sustainable part of school culture. Pupils grow in confidence, schools strengthen behaviour and engagement, and staff have practical solutions with measurable outcomes.
For schools ready to grow the leaders of tomorrow and support pupils at every stage of their journey, the message is clear: leadership starts here.
Discover how Unstoppable You and Lead the Way can transform leadership and character education in your school — book your consultation today:
https://commandojoes.co.uk/lead-the-way-ks3
https://commandojoes.co.uk/unstoppable-you
Commando Joe’s are proud to be part of Edwin. An education alliance here to do good. Connecting schools, students and teachers through a refreshing approach to education services. Including teaching, training, support, building character and safeguarding. Find out more about Edwin here.
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