As one of only ten Changemaker schools in the UK, Stanley Park High is part of a global network of educationalists that “prioritise the cultivation of empathy, teamwork, leadership, and change making in their students.”
Ashoka’s Viliana Dzhartova said, “Changemaker schools are hubs of innovation in education. Stanley Park High impressed us with its strong vision, exemplified by successful project based learning, student voice and shared understanding between staff. Additionally, the school demonstrates outstanding innovative practices.”
Stanley Park High Head Teacher David Taylor said, “We are thrilled to be designated a Changemaker School, and also October’s School of the Month, in recognition of our commitment to innovation through our project based learning curriculum and through our focus on the formation of excellent relationships. Being part of Ashoka’s Changemaker Schools programme is a huge honour and we look forward to being part of a worldwide group of like-minded schools and educationalists.”
Changemaker schools share common characteristics:
• They cultivate all of their students as changemakers and active contributors rather than passive recipients.
• They make the development of empathy a priority in their curricula, culture and systems.
• They develop and test new ideas, rather than just following established norms. And leadership fosters a culture of innovation in the school.
• They have the authority, reputation and relevance needed to influence others in the education sector.
• They have a Change Team, comprised of teachers, administrators, parents, students and other school staff who are entrepreneurial, collegial, ethical and share the ‘everyone a changemaker’ vision.
Ashoka is a leading global network of social entrepreneurs with over 3,000 Ashoka Fellows worldwide: high impact entrepreneurs who creatively solve some of the world’s biggest social challenges. In the UK there are 36 Fellows. (http://uk.ashoka.org/fellow)