Educators and business leaders from the US crossed the pond last week to share their story of transforming education in Nashville.
Ten years ago the Tennessee capital’s public high schools were near the bottom of the US school league tables. Today, the city is recognised as a centre of excellence in education, thanks in part to the creation of a link between the curriculum and the world of work.
Nottingham educators and business and council leaders who attended an event at The Bulwell Academy, a secondary school in the city that specialises in business and enterprise, heard about the change from Marc Hill, chief policy officer of Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, and Jay Steele, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools’ chief academic officer.
Bulwell headteacher Paul Halcro says his school has good links with local employers, “but I’m convinced there’s even more we can do together”.
He is particularly interested to explore Nashville’s “freshman academy” — a year-long programme that gives 13 and 14-year-olds an insight into careers — and “externships”, where teachers visit local businesses and plan curriculum projects that they then deliver together in the next academic year.
Pic: From left: David Harbourne, Acting CEO of Edge Foundation, Mich Stevenson, Nottingham businessman and chair of the National Ice Centre, Marc Everett Hill, chief policy officer of Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, Jay Steele, chief academic office of metropolitan Nashville public schools and Paul Halcro, principal of Bulwell Academy
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