12 Families South West • March/April 2020 familiesonline.co.uk
Education for the 21st centuryBy Alison Melrose,Head of Prince's Gardens Preparatory SchoolPrince’s Gardens Preparatory School is a brand spanking new, independentschool opening in Kensington this September. The head teacher Alison Melrose isvery passionate about the 4Cs of education; but what are they and why are theypivotal in our children’s lives?The happiness of a child is a true measureof success and it’s a fact that childrenlearn best when they are happy. AtPrince’s Gardens Preparatory School, we feelthe 4Cs—creativity, collaboration,communication and critical thinking—all helpto build confidence and support the need for abroad curriculum; successfully preparing eachpupil for life as an intellectually accomplishedand fulfilled adult. We don’t know what thefuture holds for our children so we mustprepare them to be adaptable to changeas well as having an excellentacademic education. Knowledgewill get them so far, but they mustalso be able to think on theirfeet, work in a flexible manner,be independent learners andhave the human element, whichrobots and AI can’t deliver.Creativity, collaboration,communication and criticalthinkingThe 4Cs can be found across the curriculumbeing applied in all aspects of education. Goneare the days of the teacher standing at thefront of the class with an endless monologue.We all learn in different ways and the threemost well-known areas are visual, auditory andphysical, ensuring we teach to all learningstyles is pivotal in engaging with all children.For example, in a music class where thechildren are playing musical instruments, not“Knowledgewill get them so far,but they must alsobe able to think ontheir feet, somethingrobots and AI can’tdeliver”only do they need to listen to their teacher, butthey also need to work collaboratively to playthe same piece of music. They need to thinkcritically about how they stand, how muchspace they need so they don’t bump into theirneighbour, or poke them in the eye with a bow,and then they create some wonderful musicand have the confidence to perform in front ofan audience. These active and engagedchildren retain information and are inspired tofind out more, which ultimately results ingreater progress.Outdoor learning andresidential tripsAnd while progress is importantfor the children, we also need toensure that we are mindful oftheir wellbeing—healthy mindsand bodies. Prince’s Gardens hasits own two-acre outdoor areabehind the school which is veryunique in terms of London schools. Wealso have access to a 70-acre outdoor learningcentre in Hertfordshire supporting thecharacter education programme in tandemwith an excellent academic programme. Andwe have initiatives such as outdoor learningand residential trips which provide fantasticopportunities for collaborative and activelearning. Prince’s Gardens has a specialistteaching room called The Maker Space wherechildren can really develop the 4Cs. All ofthese activities develop character, teamwork,resilience and a sense of pride.As always, communication remains hugelyimportant in education, particularly in terms offeedback. Teachers must understand whatgood feedback looks like and give personalisedresponses for each child in a meaningful way.Not necessarily to praise, but to guide the pathforward as to what went well and how thework could be even better next time. AtPrince’s Gardens we feel feedback delivered toeach pupil in class is much more meaningfulthan a comment in a book that they read aweek later.Technology in relation to the 4Cs is also keywithin classrooms. It allows collaborativelearning with teachers able to sit with pupilsbut still display and model parts of thecurriculum, or the children’s own work, from atablet directly to a screen. Classes can bedelivered with children around the world,including Skype calls and collaborativeactivities to share learning about differentcultures and languages.Ultimately, schools must be nurturingenvironments where we support children to bethe best version of themselves, make friendsand to try out a wide variety of activities andsubjects to find where their talents lie. Andmost of all, to enjoy their childhood anddevelop great social and emotional skills. AtPrince’s Gardens we want the children to stepout confidently in the future, be ambitious andtenacious whilst also being mindful of theworld and their responsibility for it; and the 4Csare pivotal in helping us deliver that.10-13 Prince’s Gardens,London SW7 1NDwww.princesgardensprep.co.ukfamiliesonline.co.ukFamiliesSWLonMarch/April 2020 • Families South West 13