Few things have changed since the advent of the modern education system. At least that’s the common belief: Education needs reform. What has changed dramatically is that many teachers work in what’s being called an “exam factory” rather than truly offering students the benefits of their deep subject knowledge. In this kind of testing and compliance driven environment, everyone loses. Teachers are worn out and disillusioned, and students are woefully unprepared for university or working in the modern world.
The result isn’t just disengaged teachers, it’s disengaged students. While exams given judiciously can be an excellent tool for benchmarking student achievement, exam culture holds student achievement to a narrow set of measures that devalues their potential and their futures. And when teacher accountability is tied up in the standardized test performance, they too feel undervalued for their passionate subject-matter knowledge.
Peter Hyman, headteacher and co-founder of School21 Stratford east London, says that the time for reform is over; what Britain’s schools need is a revolution.
“We need something different. An engaged education is one capable of meeting the challenge of the times and where we properly engage with the head, heart and hand.”
Start with the basics: Literacy and numeracy are the foundation for a good education. And while the exam factory encourages shallow knowledge, Hyman says that a good education must delve deeper into core concepts that develop critical and creative thinking skills through subjects such science, history, maths and creative arts.
Build character: If everything is regimented, students cannot learn to think for themselves. But we know that critical and creative thinking are important skills in the modern knowledge economy. Students need to engage in hands-on activities where they learn to communicate and collaborate with their peers, and develop a sense of citizenship.
Get hands on: Provide opportunities for students to apply their knowledge to real situations using client briefs and other project-based learning strategies. This kind of hands-on education nurtures creativity and provides students with space to think conceptually and hone problem-solving skills.
Too much focus on exam readiness does both students and teachers a disservice. It leaves us with a system where teacher performance is not based on real student achievement, but rather their ability to pass a series of standardized tests. But the modern work environment cares little for standardized tests. It calls for students who are effective communicators, creative problem solvers, and agile thinkers.
