Share

The British government is currently talking to the French government,  Sweden´s International English Schools (IES) and even actress Goldie Hawn´s the Hawn Foundation, about joining the public school system in England.  The idea is to provide the kind of schooling available at some private schools but in the public arena, to allow children from poorer backgrounds access, and a better chance, to enter higher education.

Michael Gove, Shadow Children’s Secretary, explained how they were looking into Sweden´s IES to take over schools that were not doing well.   They are talking to the French about establishing more schools based on the Lycée Français, in South Kesington, London, and Goldie Hawn is keen to expand her foundation´s work by opening a school in the UK.   The IES has a traditional and conservative outlook on education, valuing disciplne and having high expectations.  The Lycée provides a French education for French expatriates and British parents who want their children to grow up bilingual, while the Hawn Foundation emphasise social and emotional progress over academic testing and use simple breathing exercises to boost learning power, based on Buddhist techniques.

There are still questions about funding and regulations to keep in line with British education standards and beliefs, but it´s definitely an interesting development in the public education sector.

You can learn more about the Hawn Foundation´s values from this interview with Goldie Hawn:

Tags: Goldie Hawn, Hawn Foundation, IES, International English Schools, Lycée Français, Public Education, UK