Real world ready

Nikki Olhausen, Deputy Head (Academic) at The Beacon considers how to equip pupils with the skills they need to meet the challenges they face as young adults and beyond.

With so much technology and an unprecedented amount of information available to pupils today, making sense of this information, and using it in intelligent ways is a must. As the world transforms, so must education. Preparing pupils for the next step in their educational journey and cultivating vital skills that equip them for life beyond is the future of education.

At The Beacon, we adopt a multi-dimensional approach, combining academic learning with a tailored transformative experience. We pride ourselves on nurturing young leaders who actively contribute to their school community. The Land of Opportunities!

Our lessons are taught by secondary trained specialist teachers and our curriculum is underpinned by the Pre-Senior Baccalaureate (PSB). This was founded at The Beacon back in 2007 when the Beacon Certificate of Achievement (BCA) was introduced to replace Common Entrance courses in Year 7 and Year 8.

In line with the PSB’s mission, we strive to instil a love of learning, whilst challenging more traditional perceptions of what school is like. By championing the development of the PSB’s Core Learning Skills, we are facilitating our pupils to thrive and become more resilient in all aspects of life. The PSB’s Core Learning Skills consist of: Communication, Reviewing and Improving, Thinking and Learning, Collaboration, Leadership, and Independence.

Cross-curricular work empowers educational development, adding value to the PSB and Upper School experience at The Beacon, which aids development of the Core Skills. Popular projects include a Year 8 study of WW1 poetry in English, the exploration of the causes of WW1 in History, the battlefields trip to the Western Front and the culmination of it all in the Remembrance service which is led by Year 8.

The annual BBC Young Reporter’s Day involves boys acting as roving reporters conducting interviews and working to tight deadlines to construct their pieces. By investigating current affairs locally, nationally, and globally they can focus on an area of particular interest which inspires them. They then explore it more fully and write from an angle that is unique.

Additionally, the PSPQ is an assessment model equivalent to the A level EPQ that boys at The Beacon choose to embark upon. Year 7 pupils identify an area of interest, create a title, then research and present their finished project in the Summer Term of Year 7. Quite some achievement!

Our bespoke ‘Self and Society’ (SAS) curriculum encompasses RS and RSE providing a unique opportunity in its assessments and evidencing of Core Skills in the form of Viva-style presentations – familiar to some as undergraduates. A significantly demanding task for boys in Years 7 and 8.

The three projects highlighted originate in English, S.A.S. and the Humanities. They harness research skills that encourage curiosity, critical thinking, and collaborating as a team.

Opportunities in so many areas are endless, such as the immersive and collaborative experience of an annual MasterCook Competition which is adjudicated by award-winning local chefs. Standards are always extremely high, and boys create restaurant-quality cuisine which never fails to impress. The Upper School winners team up to run their own ‘Come Dine with Us’ evening, inviting parents and senior management to enjoy their menus and hospitality. They prepare and serve their guests, learning vital skills for future endeavours.

The annual Art Exhibitions are an excellent opportunity to showcase the extraordinary talents and the diverse skill sets of the boys across the whole school. This also applies to Design and Technology, where the workshop is always open, and boys are eager to work on their own designs and inventions.

Performing Arts continues its superb work with multiple performance opportunities designed to fit the skills and talents of each cohort of boys. Bi-annually, Upper School boys proudly perform at Edinburgh Festival Fringe which inspires creativity and confidence. They also demonstrate leadership and collaboration skills by rehearsing for the shows, but also in actively promoting themselves and their production.

One of our strengths in the Upper School are the openings for boys to help others in the school community. A particularly heartening endeavour involves our older boys dedicating their time to assist Year 4 students with reading. This "buddying" initiative has been a longstanding success, fostering not only academic growth but also a sense of camaraderie and mentorship. Through this experience, boys are honing invaluable leadership and communication skills, setting a shining example for their peers.

Year 8 boys assist with weekly Year 2 MFL lessons, and what’s remarkable about this is that it was entirely self-directed, showcasing the boys' autonomy and proactive approach to learning and teaching. By sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm for language, they not only support younger pupils but also deepen their own understanding and appreciation of different cultures.

Furthermore, our boys have demonstrated a strong commitment to social responsibility by organising and leading a food bank collection. What's noteworthy is that this initiative was not spearheaded by the Head boy team nor Heads of Houses but by those who felt passionately about making a positive difference in their community. Their dedication to serving others reflects the core values we aim to instil in all pupils – empathy, compassion, and a sense of social justice.

As we continue to celebrate and support the initiatives of Beacon boys, we are filled with optimism for the future. Guided by our shared values and a commitment to excellence, we are confident that they will continue to exemplify the Core Skills: leadership, compassion, and a steadfast dedication to serving others, both within our school community and beyond.

This article first appeared in the 2024/25 edition of Which London School? & the South-East, which you can read in full below: