Excellence in Schools 115
T hat may sound simplistic. Of course, as an educator, I value academic rigour, intellectual stretch, and ambition. However, in my experience, children achieve their best only when they feel known, supported, and safe. In other words – when they are happy. This does not happen by chance. To genuinely develop happy, confident young people, schools must embed a deep and consistent culture of pastoral care, where there needs to be a clearly thought-out programme of social and emotional learning – and this needs to run through every aspect of school life. Across the globe, and especially in forward-thinking education systems like the UAE’s, this whole-school approach is increasingly seen not as a ‘nice to have’, but as a critical driver of pupil success. The explicit teaching of values, including respect and compassion is vital to developing empathetic learners with the soft skills necessary to thrive in the 21st century marketplace. Schools should not just be places where we learn subjects, but places to learn about our position within the global society, to learn about different cultures and customs and to understand differences while
connecting and collaborating with others. These are not secondary skills – they are foundational. A 2023 study by the OECD found that pupils with high levels of social and emotional skills achieve better grades and have higher aspirations for their future, especially in areas such as reading, maths, and the arts, while also reporting stronger attendance and behaviours outcomes. They provide opportunities for our pupils to develop tolerance and to understand how diverse our population is. With an explicit emphasis on wellbeing and positive relationships, our children develop emotional intelligence and a strong sense of community. I want my children to grow up to become leaders in whatever field they choose, but to do that they will need to be collaborative, thoughtful, resilient, and open- minded. These are all skills that can be taught and developed – when a school has the desire, courage, and commitment to prioritise them. At Brighton College, we believe that kindness is not just a value – it is a way of life.
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