"Bringing out the Best ... unleashing the potential of every child"

[June 17th 2022]

This week Politicians and educational experts welcomed the report from the 'Times Education Commission' on the future of education alongside it's many recommendations.

The report, entitled "Bringing out the Best ... How to transform education and unleash the potential of every child" explores many areas, including the purpose of education, social mobility and levelling up, the curriculum, assessment, teaching, technology, wellbeing and mental health, schools in the community, special educational needs and disabilities and alternative provision, further education, higher education and lifelong learning.

It also makes many significant and ambitious recommendations in all of these areas, including ensuring well-being is at the heart of education, preparing young people better for future employment, working with a wider range of metrics including wellbeing, transforming practice and assessment, creating an army of tutors and a new focus on volunteering, creativity and entrepreneurialism ... all implemented through a 15-year strategy for education, drawn up in consultation with business leaders, scientists, local mayors, civic leaders and cultural figures ... putting education above short term party politics and bringing out the best in our schools, colleges and universities.

The report fully aligns with the plans the Good Turns Foundation has already put in place to provide 'hope and opportunity' and to 'help young people to thrive', referring to the importance of focusing on well-being, developing character/skills, volunteering and doing good and the importance of nurturing creativity and unleashing untapped talent. It also refers to the importance of exercise/sport, developing entrepreneurialism and to the creation of a volunteer tutoring programme (in contrast to a £5bn National Tutoring Programme) ... all of which already exist in our plans for Jewel of a School® and the introduction of Good Points® (e.g. Volunteer Points®, Community Points®, Envrironment Points®, Personality Points®, Leadership Points®, Teamwork Points®, Resourcefulness Points®, Exercise Points®, Sports Points®, Tutoring Points®, Creative Points®, Tutor the Future® and The Creative Crew® etc etc). 

The report also significantly highlights how parents overwhelmingly prioritise their child’s wellbeing over academic attainment — by a majority of ten to one — and they feel that schools focus too narrowly on exams. This supports our early findings too, for instance with parents saying:

• "As a parent, when searching for schools I would choose the school that rewards good, over all others. I believe that schools should focus on creating well rounded individuals not just academic talents"

• "The 'Jewel of a School' is such a simple idea but a very powerful robust tool to help our young people thrive and be rewarded for doing good. I have no hesitation in saying that the 'Jewel of a School' is going to be as important as School league tables"

• "I love the idea of 'Jewel of a School' as it would help develop my child to be a more rounded individual and help get recognised for the Good that they do for the community. I would definitely choose a School with the Good Points System"

This insightful report provides additional background and support to the work we're doing ... and by partnering with like-minded individuals and organisations we are now bringing this to life ... to provide hope and opportunity and to change people's lives for the better ...

David Clift, Founder of the Good Turns Foundation

© Good Turns Foundation 2022    [GTF17062022_01]