Reimagining education with the Rekindle Foundation: Fran Quansah’s insights

We’re proud to share this thoughtful reflection by one of our brilliant trustees, Fran Quansah, following her attendance at our Reimagining Education event earlier this summer. Originally published on LinkedIn, this piece captures key moments and insights from the day, highlighting why spaces like Rekindle matter so deeply.

Read Fran’s reflections in full below:

I recently posted that I would be attending the Rekindle Foundation‘s “Reimagining Education” event last week. Firstly, they couldn’t have chosen a more fitting venue. The People’s History Museum champions active citizenship and the collective power of people to drive positive change, and you could feel it as soon as you stepped into the building. I’ll begin by saying I couldn’t be prouder of the vital conversations sparked by the event and the research that was produced. The day underscored crucial themes that are essential for the future of our education system, and I wanted to share some of my key takeaways. This is also a way of remembering and holding myself to account, so I don’t forget the insightful discussions from that day.

Seeing Every Child: Beyond “What Do You Want to Be?”

A powerful theme throughout the day was the importance of seeing every child. We were asked whether we thought children would consider their future careers without being asked directly.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” This question, while seemingly innocent, can inadvertently box children in and often reflects our own societal biases and conditioning. It can steer them towards predefined paths rather than allowing them to explore their authentic selves. Instead, the focus should shift to understanding a young person’s journey and helping them discover their strengths and talents. I don’t know about you, but my career path has certainly not been linear. I find myself where I am now not because what I had planned didn’t work out, and I said yes to interesting opportunities, or just tried my luck applying to things I thought I could do (not sure that’s something I should admit on LinkedIn, but that’s the truth). I still don’t know what I want to do when I “grow up” because I’m not where I want to be yet, and I’m not sure when I will arrive at that point. I’m still learning what I want from life.

Rather than asking a child what they want to be, a better question would be:

What do you enjoy, and why do you enjoy it?

This subtle shift encourages self-discovery and a genuine connection to learning, fostering intrinsic motivation rather than external pressure.

The Power of Identity and Bold Spaces

One of the amazing youth pioneers, a budding self-taught pianist, talked about culture and identity, asking a crucial question:

How can children be bold if they don’t know who they are?

Understanding one’s own identity and respecting the identities and cultures of others is fundamental to creating truly inclusive educational spaces. When we foster this understanding, we build bridges that lead to more welcoming and equitable environments for everyone.

The Bold Spaces session also introduced the concept of bringing one-to-one mentoring into Rekindle, further emphasising the importance of individualised support in helping young people develop their unique voices and confidence.

Bringing Joy Back to Learning

A question that one of the attendees (an Early Years educator) brought up that deeply resonated with me was:

Where is the joy in education beyond the early years?

We discussed how striking it is that play and joy seem to be central to early years learning, only to diminish as children progress through the education system. We need to actively consider how to reintroduce and sustain that sense of playfulness and delight throughout all stages of education. Learning should be an intrinsically joyful experience, not just a means to an end.

The Transformative Power of the Rekindle Experience

The event beautifully showcased the tangible impact Rekindle has had and is having on young people. We heard directly from a current Rekindle student, who bravely shared how the program gave her the confidence to speak to an audience – something she couldn’t have imagined before. The guest youth pioneers also highlighted how Rekindle provided them a vital space to know they weren’t alone and offered the opportunity to delve deeply into their educational experiences and discuss ideas for change. As Alieh Amuntung, one of the original Youth Pioneers and now Rekindle’s Programme Manager, powerfully stated, Rekindle showed her that,

If you don’t address the problem, you become a part of it.

This isn’t just a statement; it’s a powerful call for collective action and an unwavering commitment to change. Hearing these firsthand accounts as a board trustee fills me with immense pride and deeply reinforces my personal “why.”

Championing Youth Voice: A Call to Action

One of the most profound takeaways and the closing thought of the day was the call to change the narrative around youth voice. Believing in the power of young people’s perspectives shouldn’t be seen as extraordinary or radical; it should be the norm. Their voices are critical, and they must be central to conversations about education and in challenging the status quo.

I encourage you to explore the research produced by Rekindle’s researchers by following the QR codes below (if you attended, you’ll know where to find them!).

If you’ve read until the end, I’d love to know:

What steps do you believe we can take, in our communities or wider networks, to champion youth voice
How can we foster a more joyful, inclusive educational experience?

Please share your thoughts in the comments!