In an age shaped by AI, schools must prioritise character, communication, and purpose-led learning, says RGSGD Principal Matthew Pearce
At a time when the world is evolving at an unprecedented pace, the role of schools must evolve too. More than ever, we need education that prepares young people not just for exams, but for life.
Since becoming a Principal in Dubai, I have been struck by the extraordinary warmth, openness, and generosity of spirit that define both our schools and the city we call home.
The welcome I’ve received from pupils, parents, and staff has been genuine and heartfelt. In many ways, this mirrors the ethos of Dubai itself: a place where cultures connect, ambition flourishes, and people from all walks of life are embraced and empowered to thrive.
Helping students find their ‘why’
Simon Sinek, in his widely respected work on leadership and purpose, reminds us that people don’t follow what you do — they follow why you do it.
This idea resonates deeply in schools. Schools must go beyond content to help students discover their sense of identity — their “why.” It must nurture character, not just competence.
Education should empower students to understand who they are, what they stand for, and how they want to contribute to the world.
Learning— like life — is inherently paradoxical. It must be scaffolded enough to prevent overwhelm, yet challenging enough to allow space for struggle, striving, and ultimately, growth.
What some educators and psychologists call “desirable difficulties” are not obstacles to learning — they are the very conditions that make deep, lasting learning possible.
In this light, adversity is not something to be avoided in education, but something to be embraced, sweetened by the support, relationships, and purpose that surround it.
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The human advantage in a tech-driven future
Increasingly, the development of emotional intelligence and character is not just important — it is the cornerstone of long-term success in life, learning, and leadership. This is true irrespective of background or culture.
In fact, far from diminishing the need for these qualities, the rise of intelligent technologies only heightens their value.
As AI and automation reshape the future of work and society, the uniquely human capacities for empathy, ethical reasoning, and emotional self-regulation become even more vital.
Central to this is oral literacy—the ability to think clearly, listen actively, and communicate authentically in real-time.
In a world where AI can standardise and even perfect the written word, it is through spoken interactions that true voice and personal identity are increasingly revealed.
The ability to engage eloquently, in-person and in the moment, becomes a powerful marker of character and confidence — and a key differentiator in an age of digital uniformity.
Why emotional intelligence matters
Research by the World Economic Forum identifies emotional intelligence and social influence as among the top ten skills needed for the future workplace (WEF, 2023), underscoring the imperative for schools to cultivate these attributes with intentionality and care.
Schools must embrace technology, innovation and future-readiness.
With digital fluency, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and ethical leadership integrated across disciplines, we can genuinely prepare our students for futures that may look very different from the world we know today.
Young people should be leaving our schools not only with outstanding academic outcomes, but with the capacity to thrive in any context — to think critically, speak articulately, act compassionately and lead wisely.
All of which are rather old-fashioned sounding, but, in reality, these are the keys that unlock the potential of the future and its technologies, those known and those not yet imagined.
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