PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
chools have always had an eye to the future and an awareness that education needs to be holistic. Lessons aren’t just learned in the classroom but through all the other interactions that take place, from taking a leadership role on the sports pitch to managing conflict in debates or getting involved in pupil-led societies and clubs. That holistic approach has become increasingly important now changes to the employment landscape are accelerating at such a rate that – like the White Queen in Through the Looking-Glass , believing six impossible things before breakfast no longer feels like a stretch. It’s vital that pupils have a sense of what the emerging employment sectors are likely to be and the qualifications and skills that they’ll need to acquire to be able to forge ahead in their future careers. Schools and colleges may not have all the answers but they’re thinking constantly about how the education they offer fits into this fast-changing world. Nobody can know in detail how roles in the workforce might evolve – right now, some technological breakthrough or entrepreneur’s ‘eureka moment’, could be about to have a seismic impact on A holistic approach Life after school isn’t limited to sitting behind a desk – which is why schools are looking beyond the classroom for certain lessons
our daily lives in ways we simply can’t imagine. But schools are making some educated guesses about the qualities that are likely to be most valued in the workforce of the future, not to mention how they can shape tomorrow’s leaders, thinkers and innovators. What’s clear is that when it comes to equipping pupils with an armoury of talents that will help them excel in life after school – whether that involves workplace training or a college
degree – it may well be the case that qualifications are still important, but equally, so are skills like collaboration, taking responsibility, being able to think independently and solving problems creatively and under pressure. One basic but incredibly important skill is oracy: the ability to use the spoken word to address – and influence – an audience. If a pupil, however bright, is unable to articulately express their views and argue their case effectively,
36 AUTUMN/WINTER 2023
Powered by FlippingBook