It’s undeniable: 2022’s been another tough year. Wherever the child and whatever their stage, their development has been deeply affected by the global pandemic. Beyond just their academic profile, the opportunity to travel, develop social skills or pursue sporting talents has been disrupted. Maybe worst of all, the opportunity to find new passions has been extremely limited.
Regardless of the on-site, off-site, remote learning and changes in grades for public examinations fiascos, we know this can be a phenomenal time for young people. Their capacity to grow remains astronomically high. 2023 offers them opportunities that are demanding and rewarding, but also increasingly competitive to be selected for.
We are seeing candidate pools grow at every stage and find the meaning of an ‘exceptional profile’ constantly challenged. Flourishing in 2023 requires young people to develop essential skills and build a distinguished profile which goes far beyond their grades.
Institutions are rarely effective in developing a distinguished or exceptional profile. Parents complain that schools over-promise and under-deliver. They see schools offering incredible experiences to their pupils, but unable to create truly tailored development plans for their child. We believe that the responsibility for developing the entire profile of a child should be seized, expertly controlled and directed.
Increasingly, young people find it easy to make passive decisions about how they spend their time. Some parents tell us that they worry about the influence of social media or gaming on their child. This can be tricky when it is at the expense of familial relationships and confidence in self. We think it is essential that young people develop robust and independent personality where they make active choices about how they spend their time. This includes maintaining a healthy relationship with social media and their gaming console.