insideKENT Magazine Issue 95 - February 2020 | Page 146

EDUCATION
HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE
NAVIGATE THE 21ST CENTURY
MIKE PIERCY, HEADMASTER THE NEW BEACON SCHOOL, SEVENOAKS
85% OF THE JOBS IN 2030 HAVE NOT YET BEEN INVENTED. TWO GOOGLE CLICKS AND
YOU WILL FIND THIS ‘STATISTIC’ IS QUESTIONABLE, THEORETICAL, HAVING LITTLE TO
DO WITH EMPIRICAL RESEARCH. THE PRINCIPLE IS NOT WITHOUT MERIT, HOWEVER,
FOR IT IS THOUGHT-PROVOKING.
Those of us who are parents or education
professionals (in whatever capacity), already worry
about the world into which our children are growing
and speculate about their future: education,
qualifications, careers, stability, confidence, wellbeing,
happiness. What should we be teaching in schools
or, perhaps more germane, ‘how’ should we be
teaching – what is the ethos and culture of a school?
The World Economic Forum (proper research!) tells
us that education for the future workplace must focus
less on knowledge but more on the application of
knowledge, decision-making (through learning by
experience), problem-solving, adaptability,
communication skills, and empathy.
Almost daily in our own children or in the boys (at
our boys’ school) we encounter a twenty-first century
emotional test. Children worry about peer pressure,
friendships, isolation, clearing hurdles to get to the
next stage of education, exams. Failure.
Every head can regale you with stories of online
misbehaviour – normally by pupils. Social media
has brought us closer in many ways with the
immediacy of communication. It has also torn us
apart with faceless, ostensibly anonymous,
spontaneous messaging. How many of our children
have been upset when ‘aired’ or ‘ghosted’? The
WEF tells us that in 2021 it is likely there will be
more people in the world with a mobile ‘phone
than those who have access to clean water – a
disturbing prospect.
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In response to these challenges we decided to make
a bold statement by bringing together internationally
regarded experts, therapists and trainers in childhood
and adolescent mental health for a two day
conference on 23 and 24 April. Pooky Knightsmith
(www.pookyknightsmith.com) speaks of ‘ACE Scores’,
Adverse Childhood Experiences, things which
can affect us in later life. Recognising stimuli can
help navigate the course to strength and recovery
from trauma – or, more simply, facing life’s
challenges. Dick Moore, representing the Charlie
Waller Memorial Trust (www.cwmt.org.uk), tells
his audiences that resilience can be taught.
Richard Burnett of Tonbridge School, founder
of the ‘Mindfulness in Schools Project’
(mindfulnessinschools.org), will highlight self-
awareness – the potential to rationalise when faced
with challenge. ‘Mind’ will be conducting a one day
Mental Health First Aid (mhfaengland.org) course.
Thanks to Sevenoaks School who have collaborated
with Knole Academy in creating the ‘Sevenoaks
Partnership’, and with their financial support, we
are able to reach out to all schools in the
Sevenoaks area. A member of staff from each of the
thirty member schools will be funded to take the
‘Drawing and Talking’ Foundation Course
(www.drawingandtalking.com) – one element of the
conference programme. Over two million young
people have benefited from this training for education
professionals aiming to support young people, ‘who
are not reaching their full potential socially or
academically.’ Whichever sector of education, we
all share the same goal: helping young people to
build solid emotional foundations for life and learning.
To return to school ethos, there are those who suggest
that good teaching is a greater contributor to
academic success than class size. I beg to differ.
Good teaching must be a given but small class size
brings greater individual attention – one of the keys
to unlocking personal development. Knowing the
individual, his/her character, fragilities and strengths,
building confidence and resilience, must lie at the
core of education.
For more information, including booking details for
the conference visit:
www.newbeacon.org.uk/news-
events/helping-young-people-navigate-the-
21st-century
To find out more about studying at The New Beacon
and our teaching ethos please join us for our Open
Day: 13 March 2020, 9am - 12pm.
The New Beacon
Britains Lane
Sevenoaks
TN13 2PB
www.newbeacon.org.uk