Sharing insights on the future of education

Clare Jarmy, Assistant Head (Learning & Development) at Bedales Senior, gave insight into the future of education when she was invited to speak at a Westminster Education Forum conference in December, highlighting the need for reforms in educational approaches to better prepare students for the challenges of the 21st century.
 
Pointing to the strict accountability measures in education, Clare discussed how these are limiting the scope of both teaching content and methods, and the negative impact they are having on teacher recruitment and retention.
 
Explaining that 21st century skills such as collaboration, creativity and critical thinking are too often found on the periphery of students’ educational experiences, Clare presented Bedales Assessed Courses (BACs) as a credible alternative to the current system, which restricts teacher autonomy and enforces high accountability.
 
Clare highlighted the benefits of the BAC ‘university style’ assessment model, with work internally set and externally moderated; the range of assessment methods used, such as iterative portfolio and viva voce exams, which she explained are assessment models resistant to artificial intelligence (AI); and the autonomy and interest for students and teachers alike, which is motivating for both.
 
Other speakers at the conference included members of the House of Lords who were part of the Select Committee on 11-16 Education, who published their report in December. At the conference, Lord Knight commented that Bedales has “shown that it is possible to innovate”, adding that assessments should be prevented from controlling the direction of education (“the tail of assessment needs to stop wagging the dog of education”).
 
Discussions at the forum also touched upon the role of AI and the difference technology will make to the future of assessments. The consensus emphasised the importance of centring education around people – particularly learners – and the need for a model of education that is determined by a desire to nurture the whole person. 

View the conference programme here.