Better Generation Solutions was delighted to contribute to The Big Retreat Festival, delivering a joint session entitled “Beyond Broken: Education like your children mattered” alongside Ian Chriswick from Cymbrogi.
The session brought together themes from Dr Thomas Tatchell’s recent TEDx talk, “What Should Education Look Like for Our Future Generations?”, with Cymbrogi’s innovative Tomorrow’s Changemakers programme. Together, the session explored a fundamental question: if the world has changed dramatically, why do so many aspects of our education system remain rooted in assumptions developed for a very different era?
Drawing on themes of Futures Literacy, sustainability, wellbeing, inclusion and lifelong learning, the discussion examined how education can better prepare learners for an increasingly uncertain and rapidly changing future. The session attracted a fantastic turnout in the Darwin Den and generated rich conversation around the future of education, the changing nature of work and the knowledge, skills and mindsets future generations may need to thrive.
A particular highlight was the opportunity to connect the strategic ideas explored in the TEDx talk with practical examples already being delivered through Cymbrogi’s Tomorrow’s Changemakers programme. Whilst the TEDx talk challenged audiences to rethink the purpose and design of education, Tomorrow’s Changemakers demonstrated how these ideas can be translated into practice through real-world challenges, systems thinking, sustainability, creativity, collaboration and problem-solving.
The combination of perspectives created valuable discussion around future generations, inclusive learning, futures thinking and the relationship between education and industry. It also highlighted how education can move beyond knowledge acquisition and towards developing confident, capable and purpose-driven learners who are equipped to contribute positively to society.
We would like to thank Cymbrogi for the invitation and everyone who attended for their insights, questions and contributions. We hope the session creates a ripple of change, inspiring further discussion, collaboration and action towards a more future-focused education system.