British education needs help.
There’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow somewhere, we’re just not looking in the right place.
The aim at LWC is to widen worlds; a rallying cry to create opportunities and experiences that bring richness, breadth and depth to life. It’s a noble idea and not necessarily a new one.
The Greeks’ concept of paideia (the holistic education of mind, body, and soul) wasn’t just about memorising facts or excelling in a single discipline. It was about creating people (actually citizens) who were well-rounded, capable of thinking deeply, speaking eloquently and participating meaningfully in society. Their idea of education widened worlds; encouraging the exploration of philosophy, science and art, alongside the physical demands of the gymnasium (David Lloyd in modern parlance).
Travel books widen worlds, by whispering a seductive promise that the Earth is vast and waiting to be discovered. But here’s the truth: you don’t need to board a plane to widen your horizons. Sometimes, all it takes is a book, a conversation, or even a walk through a part of your village or town that you’ve never explored.
Don’t get me wrong, there is something to be said for physical journeys. Hearing the intoxicating and deafening sound of silence in the Wadi Rum Desert under a billion stars. Sleeping out and hearing the cacophony of gibbons and cicadas in the rainforests of Southern Thailand. Or marvelling at the storms chasing relentlessly onto the South West Irish coastline in October all change something. It’s not just about where you go though, but how you go. Are you open? Are you curious?
Sadly, the British education system seems to have forgotten the value of this kind of exploration. We start school at 9 am and finish by 3.30 pm latest, marching through lessons that are often rigidly defined and narrowly focused. There’s little room for wandering, little encouragement to stray beyond the prescribed path and even less investment. It’s painful to see.
Independent British education has set the gold standard in the UK for decades. But here’s the thing: it has almost nothing to do with the fees paid by hard-working and aspirational parents (although that of course helps). It’s a mindset, a mantra and a philosophy of seizing the unseeable and creating a culture of creativity and inner self-confidence. That mindset is free for all and needs no termly invoice.
Of course, some schools offer resources, traditions and opportunities that many UK schools can only dream of. But is it the holy grail? Not if it fails to teach students how to think expansively, how to connect ideas across disciplines and how to view the world through multiple lenses. Red trousers and mustard cords need not apply…
Read widely and voraciously. Research the things that intrigue you, no matter how obscure they seem. Debate ideas, even if you’re unsure of your position. Every book you read, every question you ask, every new skill you try is all part of creating a vast, interconnected web of understanding.
By exploring many paths, you’re not just gathering knowledge; you’re training yourself to be brave and to be an explorer in the truest sense of the word.
So, here’s my challenge to the stewards of British education. Dare to widen the worlds of the pupils and teachers in your care and please stop shrinking them. Rather than creating more think tanks to generate new ideas (which are mostly cycled on a 30-year rhythm), maybe just speak with us in the independent sector? We’d love to help and always have. Unlike terms of Government, education doesn’t thrive on five-year cycles. Almost nothing does. Except maybe field crops.
Empower all those in our schools to explore, to question, to dream, to be adventurous and take risks. Allow us all to create cultures that value curiosity as much as conformity, that prize creativity and roll their collective eyes at the Ebacc and T levels.
The goal isn’t just to produce students who can nail exams or climb the career ladder. It’s to create individuals who are deeply engaged with the world, who can see its complexity and who are brave enough to navigate its challenges. Because in the end, education isn’t about paths or destinations. It’s about the connections we make along the way and the worlds we discover when we dare to step beyond the familiar.
Yours,
Adam
