A View of the Future

A View of the Future

15/07/2009

Bedales should be an ‘educational laboratory where experiments might be carried out and reported on to the rest of the educational world’, according to its founder, J H Badley. One hundred years on, his grand ambition was given new shape when the school held a conference (organised jointly with Frensham Heights) for students and staff from13 of the UK’s most progressive schools.

On the agenda at ‘Celebrating the Difference’ was nothing less than the future of education in the 21st century. The issue has seen fundamental clashes of opinion nationally between those government ministers who set education policy and head teachers. Heads claim that the UK education system focuses too heavily on controls, systems and testing; academic syllabuses, especially for GSCE, have become dull and undemanding. This is not education; it is standardisation. It has little to do with nurturing the young minds and young individuals who should be at the heart of education policy. Bedales, however, remains determined to do what is right for its students.

Bedales Assessed Courses (BACs) were introduced in 2006 to reinforce the school’s commitment to intellectual rigour and enquiry. BACs have allowed students and teachers alike to pursue courses of study that are more stretching, more flexible and more absorbing than the average GCSE.

In the same spirit Bedales will adopt the Cambridge Pre-U Music syllabus from September. Director of Music, Nicholas Gleed, said: ‘The Cambridge Pre-U course and exams recognise the advanced level of musical enquiry amongst our students.’

Students at Bedales have always been encouraged to question, challenge and think for themselves – it is one of the traits which sets Bedales apart. However, as the ‘Celebrating The Difference’ conference affirmed, this freedom to question means that the school must be prepared to listen to the students and respond. Students should be seen as partners rather than passive recipients, especially when the school is introducing new ideas. The appointment of Becks Hobson as Director of Student Welfare (from September) is one signal that Bedales is committed to increasing student involvement. Already, over the last year, Becks has been active in discussions with Bedales students and staff on how student voice and student leadership can influence school life. The School Council (founded in 1916) is the obvious conduit, and at a recent whole school symposium, students discussed what they expect and need from the Council. Ideas for developing student leadership have included student-led assemblies, a student pastoral panel, a student teaching and learning panel and ‘student researchers’ who would investigate whole-school issues.

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