Global education consultant, Charles Leadbeater identifies four features of innovative schools essential to prepare students for the changing world of work. They centre around developing students’ humanity. 

At a gathering of school leaders – part of SVA’s, Bright Spots Schools Connection, Charles Leadbeater previewed his now released report, The Problem Solvers.

In the report, Leadbeater states if education is going to prepare students for the future world of work, its core purpose needs to shift from teaching students to follow instructions to preparing students to identify and solve problems.

“There’s no future in getting better at teaching people to be bad robots – to follow routines and to do exactly as they’re told,” said Leadbeater. “We should be teaching people to find interesting questions; to come up with solutions that no one has thought of; and to work together to create things that make a difference in the world. We need to develop people who are better at being human.”   

In getting students ready for work in the 21st century, the four common features are:

1. A journey of knowledge from basic skills and core content to higher order, inter-disciplinary concepts
2. A personal journey which develops persistence, resilience, purpose
3. A social journey – develops collaboration, empathy, communication
4. Learning to be an agent, to make, serve, contribute

The article also covers what’s needed from the educators and school culture.