How to Create a School Values Wall: A Step-by-Step Guide

A School Values wall is more than just a decoration. It’s a powerful tool for communicating the very essence of your school’s culture and ethos.

These walls serve as visual reminders of the values that underpin your school community. This means they’re essential to shape attitudes, behaviour and the overall atmosphere of your school.

At Promote Your School, we have over 20 years of experience designing Values Wall Art for schools across the world. Over the years, we’ve perfected a process to ensure every values wall we create reflects the school’s spirit, while being an inspiring, permanent addition to the school’s environment.

Here’s our guide to create the perfect School Values Wall.

1. The why: Understand the purpose of your values wall

Before you begin, it’s crucial to define why you want to create this wall in the first place. Every school has unique needs, and understanding your goal is key to creating something impactful.

Do you want to;

• Inspire pupils with your core values?
• Reinforce your school’s ethos to staff and parents?
• Create a lasting first impression for prospective families?

By understanding the ‘why’ we can help you narrow down the design direction. Whether your goal is to raise morale, provide clear guidance or simply celebrate the values of your community, this step will set the foundation for everything else.

2. The where: Choose the right location

Now that you know your purpose, it’s time to decide where your values wall should go. The location influences how effectively your message is communicated, and who sees it.

Here are some things to consider when choosing the ideal space:

• Audience: Who do you want the wall to speak to? Is it for the entire school, or just a specific group of students, staff or visitors?
• Space: Does the wall need to be in a high traffic area like the school hall, reception area or stairwell? Or do you want it in a more targeted area like a particular corridor or classroom?
• Practicality: Is the wall free from existing fixtures, or do you need to work around them? Don’t worry if your space isn’t perfectly clear – our team can work with existing equipment and structures.

Interestingly, some schools opt to display their values outdoors. For example; playgrounds, school entrances or courtyards, where they can make a bold statement for the whole community to see.

If you’re unsure where to place your values design, don’t worry! We’ll walk through your school and help you decide the best locations based on your specific needs.

3. The what: Designing your values wall

This is the fun part – getting creative and bringing your values to life, visually!

To design the perfect values wall, we ask several key questions;

• What do your values mean? Are there images, colours or specific symbols associated with them?
• What style resonates with you? Do you prefer minimalist design, bold colours or something with lots of imagery?
• How do you want students, staff and visitors to feel when they see the wall? The design should evoke a certain emotion – whether that’s inspiration pride or a sense of unity.

We’ve created many successful designs that incorporate elements such as;

• Icons and graphics that represent each value
• Inspirational quotes that align with the school’s mission
• School branding or local cultural symbols

If you’re struggling to articulate your vision, don’t worry! We can share Case Studies and our Ideas Book to inspire you and help clarify your preferences. Our goal is to work with you to create a design that feels authentic and aligned with your school’s identity.

4. The how: Engaging the school community

Who will be involved in the design and implementation of the values wall? This can be a fun, collaborative project that engages the whole school community.

• Pupils: At Downside Community Primary School students drew pictures to represent each of the school’s values. They voted on their favourite designs, which formed the basis of the final artwork. This process was fun and allowed students to take ownership of the values wall.
• Staff: Teachers and staff can provide input on how the wall reflects the school’s ethos. Their involvement ensures that the wall truly represents the broader school community.

Our creative process is designed to be enjoyable, collaborative and effective. We’ll guide you through the journey to ensure the best possible outcome. And we’ll make sure everyone is on board and excited about the result.

5. Support, Service and Installation

We’ll guide you through every step – from creating your design brief, feeding back on your designs to approval to production and installation. Our team is experienced, friendly and highly skilled. They’ll ensure that the final result exceeds your expectations.

Here’s what you can expect;

• A dedicated consultant will guide you through the process and provide personalised support
• The design studio, who are experts at designing Wall Art for schools will create your designs based on your brief and feedback.
• The installation team will carefully install your Wall Art, taking great care with your school’s space

Once the design is finalised, the installation process begins and you can get excited for the big reveal!

Ready to get started?

Creating the perfect values wall for your school is an exciting process. Whether you already have a clear vision, or are looking for expert guidance, we’re here to help you every step of the way.

Get in touch today to arrange your free consultation – and let’s bring your school values to life!

“I would like to thank you and your team for being very understanding and patient with us during the design process. Your installation teams were very friendly, skillful, meticulous and very accommodating with my never-ending questions. We love all of the artwork; they look amazing. Thank you for your guidance and helping us every step of the way – our walls have created big excitement already!”

-Rowdown Primary School