This week’s blog is from our Senior Deputy Head, Mr Bartlett.
Curriculum Twenty20
‘Our task is to educate their whole being so they can face the future. We may not see the future, but they will and our job is to help them make something of it.’ Sir Ken Robinson
This term we have launched our Curriculum Twenty20 project which will provide opportunities for pupils, parents, staff and our senior school community to share ideas about our curriculum. Challenging ourselves to think about curriculum breadth, balance and the way it is interlinked through subjects and year transitions is an exciting step forward for us following our ‘Excellent, Excellent’ successes of last year.
In a rapidly changing and uncertain world (20 days until Brexit according to my countdown timer), most of us can agree that education is one of the most important things in society today. Aside from imparting knowledge, it shapes who we are as people and helps us to play a full part in life and work. I hope we can all remember a teacher who ignited our curiosity to learn, to create, to ask questions, to feel, to think, to contribute, to argue, to reflect, to take a risk and to flourish.
Our common goal is to imbue all these skills, which will be important in later life, through a curriculum that has real breadth, challenge and balance. By studying History, Geography, English, Languages, ICT, Music, Drama, Art, Sports alongside Maths and Science we are preparing children for a changing world, in which many jobs and industries will disappear and new ones will be created. We understand the importance of creating learners who can research, experiment, work together, problem-solve and communicate effectively. Education, however, is not just about learning content or passing an exam, it’s just as important for our children to accumulate a host of skills and resilience that they will need for their lives.
Sir Ken Robinson’s quote was shared with staff during our recent INSET training day and it reminds us of the importance of educating the whole child. As part of the more ‘hidden’ aspect of the curriculum we shape children to understand their responsibilities – to be kind, to look after each other, to look after themselves, to work hard and to contribute positively to our school community. You may recognise some of the these as our ECS Habits.
Teaching our children how to learn, how to develop new skills and when to seek help is vitally important. We know that teachers can inspire a love of learning and we know that schools are not exam and job factories. We are, however, aware that education is essential for our pupils – we want our children to have the skills and knowledge to succeed as they move to senior schools and eventually into the workplace.
Therefore, Curriculum Twenty20 is about us working together to further enhance our curriculum and build on recent successes. We know that we achieve excellent exam results and scholarships, but what makes our school special is that we value other qualities and characteristics just as highly as academic success.
We can’t see the future, but our pupils will and ‘our job is to help them make something of it.’
You can support Curriculum Twenty20 by clicking on the survey link below. The survey will close on Monday 4th November and we will hold a seminar during the next half term to share findings and discuss ideas in more detail.
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/R5Y8LZN
Thank you for your time and input.
Andy Bartlett
