Our analysis
We believe that great schools are necessary but not sufficient.
While schools have an integral role to play in securing lives of choice and opportunity for every child—they cannot do so in isolation.
Great schools are necessary…
We believe that schools are uniquely well-placed to develop the seamless, cradle-to-career support that babies, children and young people need because:
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They are trusted local institutions.
Schools are deeply rooted and have a visible presence in their communities. They have long-lasting relationships with families.
We know that when schools truly embrace a broader role and build meaningful partnerships, they can transform children’s lives and strengthen local communities.
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Schools provide a universal service to children and families in every community.
Schools can catch everybody (and everything) early. This means that they can act as preventative bodies, intervene early when needed, and create the conditions to enable children to thrive.
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Physical infrastructure is social infrastructure.
Schools are often big buildings—big, transformative community assets.
Schools’ physical infrastructures play a transformative role in students’ lives every day—and many maintain the potential to do this for other groups too.
For example, working in partnership with other professions and the community, many schools provide the perfect setting to host activities and events to enhance the capacity of young families and other members of the community.
… but not sufficient.
Because the issues affecting our young people are complex—and cannot solved by any single institution in isolation.
