Episode 52: Uplifting the Next Generation Through Nurturing Education with Alison Kriel

Alison was born in Cape Town, South Africa during the apartheid regime. She had teenage parents who worked hard to provide for their children despite the challenges of political oppression and financial hardship. The family lived in a range of countries before settling in England when Alison was 15.

After completing her studies at university, Alison chose to teach in inner city schools, working mainly in Hackney.

Alison is an experienced Head Teacher with a demonstrated history of high attainment. She has a passion for social justice leadership, staff and pupil wellbeing, the celebration of the teaching profession, inclusion and diversity and she enjoys supporting school leaders and schools facing demanding challenges.

Alison’s second headship turned around a failing school within a deprived area of London from the bottom 1% to the top 0.1% in 3 years and went on to sustain the success of the school for a further 6 years with the school consistently being listed within the top 100 schools nationwide.

Alison’s excellence in leadership was consistently recognised in every Ofsted Inspection.

Alison is a regular speaker and panel member at conferences speaking on a wide variety of subjects including Courageous Leadership, Turnaround Schools, Wellbeing, Staff Retention, Breaking Through The Concrete Ceiling, Diversity, Ubuntu, and AntiRacism. She was awarded Doctor of Philosophy Honoris Causa for attainment and services to education in 2018.

Alison is an Independent Education Consultant working locally and internationally supporting school leaders with strategic development. She also mentors teachers and school leaders who feel pushed out by the profession but still have a passion for teaching. She is currently setting up https://aboveandbeyond.education, a platform to change the conversation about education providing a place for schools to share their best practice and connect educators who want to form collaborative partnerships

In this episode, we talked about:

Alison’s schooling was mainly in South Africa, and she describes it as violent, competitive and segregated. The cane was often used. She also studied at a girls’ school in Ireland. She recalls a music teacher who went out of his way to share his passion for music so that his students could reach their potential.
Despite her negative experiences of education, she realised a passion in becoming “the teacher that I never had”
“Teaching comes from the soul, and it’s about connection and creating a space that’s fun and safe”
She was asked to take on a school that was struggling, and persevered to stick to her values, despite the pressure of the authorities
Learning rote just for exams doesn’t prepare children for adulthood
‘Appreciative enquiry’, where you look at what’s working well and use it as leverage to enhance other aspects
Knowing what children are good at, so that it can be celebrated and their self-esteem is nurtured
The importance of having a big dream, because “what you think is what you become”
Getting children to own their own destiny and revisiting their plans each year
It’s ok to change your mind
Being born into poverty isn’t your destiny
“No child is left behind” , generational impact of that child, their family, the next generation and society as a whole
The implications of excluding children
Around 90% of people in prison have been excluded at school
Creating environments for high achievers to be successful
Movement and learning go together
Children learn best through play
Providers of active learning e.g. Bryn Llewellyn from ‘Tagtiv8’ https://tagtiv8.com/, playing touch rugby whilst learning phonics
Forest School for learning skills in a non-deskbound way
https://www.forestschoolassociation.org/what-is-forest-school/
Teaching harmony by modelling compassion, understanding and acceptance
Find different ways to learn maths e.g when going or counting out on a walk
“Don’t sit and make a child learn against their will”
Writing a handwritten letter to someone they love. Each letter will get better and better. Teaching connection in a beautiful way
Looking at how different artists draw, e.g “how would Julian Opie paint a portrait of a Grandma?”
Only have teachers who have from the soul. A curriculum that teaches about the world and our past. Encourage creativity. Looking at the skills that are most drawn upon for a future workforce, rather than robotic learning.
“You are not your child’s entertainer. If a child says they are bored, say “great, now go find something interesting to do””.
Re lockdown, there won’t be such a concentrated time again. Focus on taking care of yourself and your own happiness (within the restrictions) so you can be the best parent and model to your child.