Imagining Possible Futures with Professor Patrick Alexander

Patrick Alexander, an expert in education and an anthropologist, discusses the current issues facing the education system, highlighting the overemphasis on assessments and the lack of focus on authentic, human experiences in learning.

The conversation covers how radical thinking, the transformation of classroom dynamics, and the role of teachers as public intellectuals can bring potential futures into reality.

Throughout the conversation, Patrick emphasises the importance of involving children in discussions about education and creating unstructured time in schools for critical discussions.

He also introduces two key concepts of intellectual wellbeing (strongly linked with the idea of teacher agency) and futures literacy, and the how the practice of both can drive real or even radical change in primary education systems.

• Create spaces within the school environment for discussions about the future, allowing students to think beyond the constraints of traditional educational outcomes.
• Foster a culture of professionalism among teachers, enabling them to take a critical stance and feel empowered.
• Challenge the overemphasis on assessments and explore the potential of education without such constraints.
• Involve students in discussions about the purpose and direction of their education, fostering a sense of ownership and engagement.
• Facilitate constructive disagreement and diverse perspectives within the school community, fostering a richer educational experience.

Patrick Alexander is a Professor of Education and Anthropology at Oxford Brookes University. His particular research interest is in how young people are socialised through schooling.

Formerly trained as a secondary school teacher, Patrick has spent over a decade conducting in-depth research in schools. Much of this work has focused on understanding how young people are socialised into particular ideas about the life course and about what the future will look like.

• Host: Ed Finch
• Producer: Laura Wilkes, Communicating for Impact
• Executive Producer: Joanna Borysiak, Hamilton Brookes
• Recorded and edited by: Story Ninety-Four

Primary Futures podcast is supported by funding from Oxford Brookes’ Small Knowledge Exchange Awards.