What's the point of school?
From Two Inconvenient Women by ThoughtBox Education
May 1, 2026 · 1h 8m · Season 6 · Episode 2
About this episode
This episode explores the evolving purpose of school in the context of historical and contemporary challenges.
Whilst many different models of schooling have evolved across recent history, the predominant mainstream model of school which has prevalence in countries and cultures across the world (spread through colonial history, missionaries and the rapid onset of a globalised world) remains deeply problematic. As the world rapidly changes around us, this structure remains designed around an archaic framing in a world far different from the one we're now living in. So what is the point of school? In this conversation we ask this question from several vantage points: What was the point of school when it was first designed? What is the point of school in our current context? What might the point of school be for the world we're moving into? By diving into each of these questions, we take time to better understand some of the constraints and limitations within the contexts of school which continue to shape the challenges being faced in our current contexts. This week's conversation dives into some of the deep complexities being faced in our current schooling system; zooming out to understand the parameters of limitation and opportunities for evolution and engages with many of the alternative…
Topics covered
- education reform
- schooling systems
- historical context of education
- future of education
- global education challenges
- alternative education pathways
Keywords
- school purpose
- education models
- global education
- education transformation
- learning systems
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: The Hames Report
Books & works: Changing Education Paradigms, The Factory of Memory, Person School Report 2026, The Story of Triple WellBeing
More episodes of Two Inconvenient Women
- How might criticism be enabling rather than shaming? · June 12, 2026 · 56 min
- What's the problem with tolerating diversity? · June 5, 2026 · 1h 0m
- What's Holly reading this week? · May 29, 2026 · 13 min
- What's Rachel reading this week? · May 22, 2026 · 13 min
- What does systems change look like from the inside out? · May 15, 2026 · 1h 4m
- Is self-awareness a skill we all need more of? · May 8, 2026 · 51 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Two Inconvenient Women podcast page.