The real-world benefits of a broad education Tania Botting, Headmistress at Greenfield School, wants to empower her pupils to achieve great things One of the biggest appeals of an independent education is surely the breadth of the curriculum and opportunities on offer. But what does this breadth offer to our children in real terms? In pursuit of passion Everyone should have a passion; something that they adore above all else; something they return to as a source of comfort, pleasure and inspiration. At Greenfield School, we are passionate about providing our pupils with as many opportunities as possible, in order for each child to discover what makes them tick. Be it reading a beloved author’s novels, tinkering with mechanical bits and bobs or playing a game that continues to challenge and surprise us, we endeavour to unite each of our pupils with an interest that they will turn to time and time again.
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Self-belief Lots of schools speak of instilling confidence in their pupils, but the root of confidence is found in self-belief and this is something that often has to be nurtured. A school with a broad curriculum offers greater opportunities for cultivating self-belief, particularly in young children. If Art isn’t for you, perhaps you’ll prefer the Sciences? Or if you find words tricky, maybe you’ll feel more secure working with the certainty of number? If numbers make you feel confident then you’ll probably enjoy working from a recipe in cookery lessons, or find that you really fly when you are let loose on a STEAM project. Without variety, children miss out on the chance to really identify their strengths and build their self-belief and confidence.
