Creating Tomorrow's Schools Today

1. Education Must Adapt to a Rapidly Changing World

Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it.

Constant change. The world is shifting at an unprecedented pace, with new technologies, cultural shifts, and global challenges emerging constantly. Traditional education systems, rooted in the values and methods of industrialism, are becoming increasingly irrelevant in this dynamic landscape. To prepare children for successful lives, schools must embrace change and adapt their principles and processes.

Future-proof skills. The future workforce will demand adaptability, creativity, self-confidence, and emotional intelligence. The current system often fails to explicitly develop these "soft skills," focusing instead on technical efficiency and rote memorization. Schools must prioritize the cultivation of these essential competencies to equip children for an uncertain future.

Global perspective. The rise of Asia and the global economic landscape necessitate a broader, more interconnected approach to education. While countries like China prioritize technical efficiency, a more holistic approach is needed to foster critical thinking, innovation, and adaptability. The goal is to create individuals who can invent new jobs and ways of working that do not yet exist.

2. Harness the Untapped Potential of Today's Children

The children of today are thick, disruptive and out of control. I blame those computer games and the television. In my day . . .

Challenging stereotypes. Every generation tends to demonize the next, but today's children possess unique strengths and capabilities. They are more aware of the world, technologically savvy, and capable of processing vast amounts of information. Instead of fearing their cultures and understanding, educators must harness their potential positively.

Digital natives. The technological revolution has changed the physiology of children's brains, enabling them to process information at incredible speeds. However, they need guidance to make sense of this complex world and develop sound judgment. Education should help them use technology and their culture responsibly.

Social inclusion. Many young people feel alienated from society, leading to involvement in gangs or virtual worlds. Education must foster self-esteem, aspirations, and values, ensuring that children see the positive role they can play in society. Valuing children's cultures and backgrounds is crucial for creating a sense of belonging.

3. Make School Irresistibly Relevant to Students

I have never been very good at doing because I am told to and certainly have always been better at doing because I was inspired to.

Beyond compliance. It is not enough to simply build schools and expect children to attend and learn because it is the law. Education must be engaging, relevant, and dynamic, inspiring children to want to learn. Schools should strive to make education the new rock 'n' roll, as exciting as Disney World.

Branding education. Schools can learn from the advertising industry's success in motivating children. By developing a strong brand identity and understanding what they stand for in the eyes of their students, schools can create a more compelling experience. This involves clarifying their values and exhibiting behaviors that support the brand.

Customer focus. Children are sophisticated consumers who "opt out" of schooling in various ways, from not doing homework to truancy. To counter this, schools must prioritize their needs, seek their opinions, and create an experience that is powerful and totally compelling. This requires making learning irresistible and ensuring its relevance to their lives.

4. Embrace Failure as a Vital Component of Learning

To be successful you must respect failure and understand the power that not knowing can give you.

Beyond right and wrong. The education system often emphasizes right answers and avoids mistakes at all costs. However, failure is a crucial part of the learning journey, as it is only at the point of making a mistake that we can learn anything new. Schools must create a culture where risk-taking is encouraged and mistakes are seen as opportunities for development.

Building resilience. Students need high levels of confidence and must not fear learning. The 4 Rs of Learning Power – Resilience, Resourcefulness, Reflectiveness, and Reciprocity – are essential for developing successful learners. Perseverance, or "stickability," is a crucial factor in resilience.

The casino analogy. Every lesson is like a roulette game, where children gamble with their self-esteem. Some students enter with a wealth of confidence, while others have very little. Schools must ensure that all children build their "poker chip stash" by fostering a positive attitude towards failure.

5. Center Education on the Needs of the Child

As far as school goes; we are all experts because we have all been there.

Beyond nostalgia. Schools cannot be built on what has worked before, as each generation faces different challenges. They must be designed to prepare children for the future, ensuring that they are educated, not just serving our own nostalgia. The focus must be on the children, not the adults.

System flaws. The current system is often structured for teachers and staff first, with children's needs taking a backseat. Education policy is often driven by political and media-driven means, resulting in a loss of customer confidence and empathy. The government's obsession with data and accountability has further detracted from the quality of education.

Moral imperative. Schools must return to their moral duties, asking themselves why they are doing what they are doing, who it is for, and whether there is a better way. The goal is to help children reach their potential and make a significant contribution to the world, not to use them to live out our own dreams.

6. Balance Knowledge Acquisition with Skill Development

It is time to grow up; to stop battling with our egos and our wit and start to look for a system that suits its purpose.

Beyond the knowledge vs. skills debate. The debate over whether knowledge or skills are more important is a false dichotomy. Great learning is built on the acquisition of information, experiences, and skills. Knowledge without skills can be sterile, while skills without knowledge can be meaningless.

Skills, Rules, Knowledge framework. Rasmussen's SRK framework highlights the importance of integrating skills, rules, and knowledge for effective cognition. Traditional schools often operate at the "rules" level, teaching routines and systems without fostering deeper understanding. The challenge is to move through all three stages.

Knowledge evolves. Knowledge is not a fixed entity but an evolving process that requires skills and intelligences to process information and experiences. The acquisition of knowledge relies on the ability to understand context, form opinions, and question assumptions. The goal is to develop innovators, leaders, and creative thinkers, not trivia experts.

7. Connect Learning to the World Beyond the School Gates

The truly great school is one that recognizes that it does not house the font of all knowledge, kept safe behind a gate through which only the chosen can enter.

Beyond the classroom. Schools must recognize that learning extends beyond the classroom and embrace the modern world. Children are exposed to a vast array of experiences through media and technology, and education must help them make sense of this complex world. Ignoring these influences is irresponsible and dangerous.

Relevance and context. Schooling should be a journey that helps children develop their interests and cultures responsibly, inspiring them to want to know more and use their experiences to make positive contributions to the global communities they are part of. This requires creating real contexts for learning and breaking down the walls between the school and the outside world.

Embrace technology. Schools should embrace technology and use it to enhance learning, rather than fearing it. Mobile phones, simulation games, and virtual worlds can be powerful vehicles for learning if used constructively. The goal is to help children use technology and their culture to develop a sound and rounded view of the world.

8. Transform the Industrial Model of Schooling

Our children are organic, they are not machines.

Beyond the factory model. The current education system is based on an outdated industrial model, defining learning by subject, timetable, and standardized assessments. This approach fails to recognize the unique talents and interests of individual children. A new paradigm is needed that fosters creativity, adaptability, and self-awareness.

Foundation Stage model. The most powerful learning environments are often found in the Foundation Stage (ages 3-5), where children are given broad learning opportunities and encouraged to explore their interests. This model should be extended throughout the school system.

Accountability vs. quality. The political fixation with targets and league tables is having a detrimental impact on the quality of education. Schools are so restricted by data that they are unable to develop meaningful learning experiences or focus on the needs of individual children. The quality comes from the process, not the product.

9. Cultivate a Culture of Empowerment and Ownership

If school isn’t working we can have only ourselves to blame.

Beyond routines and rules. Schools are often formulaic, with rigid routines and a focus on compliance. This can lead to a sense of powerlessness among students, who feel that education is done to them rather than something they actively participate in. A culture of empowerment and ownership is essential for fostering engagement and motivation.

Pupil voice. Schools should genuinely develop pupil voice, seeking their opinions and acting on their advice. This involves creating opportunities for children to make decisions and live with the consequences, fostering independence and responsibility.

Respect and flexibility. Schools must respect children's opinions, identities, and choices, and be flexible enough to work to them, rather than imposing more rules and routines. This requires a shift in mindset, from seeing children as passive recipients of knowledge to active participants in their own learning.

10. Nurture Every Child's Unique Talents and Aspirations

If our children do not look back on their years of schooling with affection, pride and positivity we have failed them!

Beyond academic standards. The education system often fails to find and develop children's unique interests and aptitudes, leading to a sense of disconnect and disengagement. Schools must create expansive opportunities to help young people identify their talents, no matter what they may be.

Grange University model. The Grange University, with its diverse range of workshops and community involvement, provides a model for nurturing every child's unique talents and aspirations. By offering opportunities in areas such as furniture-making, beauty therapy, and share-dealing, schools can help children discover their passions and develop valuable skills.

Lifelong learning. Education should not be seen as a ship you leave but a seamless progression. The goal is to equip children with the skills and competencies they need to continue learning throughout their lives, finding success and fulfillment in their own way.

Last updated: March 3, 2025