When the Covid-19 crisis finally ends, schools must never return to normal

An article in The Guardian highlights a need for education reform and the beginning of a new era where teachers are valued and the tyranny of tests ends. The article reads, ‘If we don’t recognise now the vital importance of an inclusive education system and the positive impact it can have on developing a fairer society, then, I fear, we never will. We must use the situation we are faced with now to end child poverty and inequalities in education and the wider society.’

With educational reform being a hot topic at our school, which opens its doors in September 2020, Founder Lucy Stephens replied to the article: “It's an unusual situation to be setting a school up in, but we recognise the necessity for education to break free of its current shackles to high-stake testing that create mental health problems, perpetuate disadvantage, leave young people feeling a failure and create educational disengagement - and we're not talking about only those who drop-out, we're including up to 1/3 of young people who mentally disengage whilst sat in a classroom according to the latest research.”

“It's great mainstream media are reflecting on this situation too, but we fear that unless we overhaul the outcomes framework of education and reimagine the purpose of what we're doing, we will not change the system or learn any lessons from this crisis. The New School is doing just this, holding ourselves accountable to young people have a strong sense of personal agency, and creating an outcomes framework that ensures we achieve this.  Part of our long-term strategy is to challenge current policy by demonstrating that a model that gives young people a voice, freedom to choose and develop their learning path, and relationship centred education, is one that develops strong mental health, the skills needed for a rapidly changing global future, educational engagement, and ultimately life satisfaction. This should be the foundation upon which we hold our schools accountable.”

‘We cannot simply return to the status quo.’