Tomorrow’s entrepreneurs should be nurtured

This piece by was published in 'The Australian' on 17 June 2021

In an era when traditional careers are changing, Brighton Grammar recognises that tomorrow’s entrepreneurs should be nurtured at school.

“We know when boys make their own learning choices, and form an emotional connection, then their learning is enriched,” says headmaster Ross Featherston.

“We encourage boys to adapt to a design-thinking approach and harness new opportunities.”

These opportunities range from building a motorbike, to designing a sensory Rubrics cube for the visually impaired to making and racing a miniature F1 cars.

“We want our students to develop an enterprising mindset,” Featherston says.

“Through a number of dedicated programs, they learn key 21st century skills of critical reasoning, collaboration and most importantly creative thinking, identified as the most important leadership competency for a successful enterprise of the future.”

The Year 8 iDesign showcases the boys’ individuality and inspiration by working with a mentor on a project of their choice over three terms and earnt the school an Innovative Schools award.

The STEM program provides a hands-on approach to understand and embrace technology that affects their daily lives.

“The Year 9 Design Thinking experience, based at the University of Melbourne’s Wade Institute of Entrepreneurship, hones our students’ creative thinking skills to provide solutions to real-life community issues,” Mr Featherston says.

The focus on beyond tomorrow will continue this year, with work beginning on a purpose-built Centre for Entrepreneurship named B-Hive to enhance a portfolio of 21st-century capabilities and mindsets, within a design-thinking framework.

 

This piece also appeared under the heading ‘Tomorrow’s entrepreneurs inspired at Brighton Grammar‘ on The Australian newspaper’s Independent School Guide online.