To challenge the values of education and to change the outcomes for every young person, we have to change the rules of the system.
Government funded free schools still have to subscribe to standardised testing and performance measures, which skew teaching and learning to the test. To innovate and create a system that works for everyone, we need to step outside the current outcomes framework.
As an independent school, we could charge fees, but we don’t believe income should be a barrier to a better education.
Instead we’re thinking outside the box.
‘Community’ is one of our principles, so we are always keen to create meaningful partnerships with local businesses and individuals who believe in our vision and want to give young people the opportunity to realise their true potential. Find out more.
Stage 1
We are operating a charity fundraising model for the first 5 years, whilst we build our alternative outcomes framework.
Stage 2
Our longer-term strategy involves public and private sector funding, as well as earned income, as we work to make our model more widely accessible.
Stage 3
Our five to ten year strategy is to use our outcomes framework to investigate scalability.
A new outcomes framework for education
Research indicates that this model supports:
Success in terms of self-fulfillment, pursuance of interests into meaningful work, financial security and success in developing social capital
Inclusive learning across the whole spectrum of ‘ability’, including young people with additional educational needs
Healthy, enduring, meaningful relationships with diverse adults and peers
Deep engagement in learning, completion of schooling and raised aspirations for higher education for marginalised young people.
The development of high levels of resourcefulness, civic engagement, and confidence in public speaking
Empowered, engaged, and fulfilled teaching professionals
Our impact
The current focus on standardised testing, progress 8 scores and value added, skews teaching and learning to the test, cuts creativity, and marginalises far too many young people who find themselves as a square peg in a round hole.
We believe we should be accountable. We believe we need to self-evaluate our offer to young people. But we believe that to include every young person in education, to celebrate diversity and to give young people a voice, we need to focus outcomes on what we value in education.
Education should support young people to develop a sense of agency – the ability to have a goal and a sense of purpose, and the basic skills and belief to articulate that goal.
So that is what we measure.
Our sponsors
Greggs Foundation
The Greggs Breakfast Club programme was started in 1999 after the company recognised that there were children all over the country attending school every day without having breakfast. The Greggs Foundation now oversees 535 clubs, including one at The New School, providing a nutritious breakfast to over 35,000 school children each day, over 6.5 million each year.
Annual report 20/21
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