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Re-Defining Educational Excellence at Shipley

Head of School Michael Turner is leading Shipley in an effort to define and measure Educational Excellence—one of the three pillars of the School’s Strategic Plan. He hopes to provide a “compass to help navigate a complex and dynamic educational landscape.”

The Why
“Seismic shifts have occurred in education over the last quarter century. These shifts have disrupted independent schools’ definition of Educational Excellence and even what it means to be educated,” explains Turner. “To chart and stay a course that is consistent with Shipley’s Mission and Strategic Plan, a clear definition of Educational Excellence is essential.”

The What
A definition of Educational Excellence must reflect the balanced pursuit of three mutually-dependent elements: student achievement (measured in performance and growth), individual well-being, and collective well-being. “One cannot sustainably realize success in one of these without attending to each of them,” says Turner.

The How
Shipley’s multi-dimensional program delivers on the School’s Mission and Strategic Plan by:
  1. Balancing student achievement in academics, the arts, and athletics.

  2. Ensuring that students flourish as defined and measured by positive education.

  3. Providing diversity, equity, and inclusion programming that prepares individuals to be more culturally competent and equips them with the tools to understand, contribute to, and benefit from a more equitable world.

The Shifting Landscape
What’s contributing to the unprecedented pace of change in independent school education?

– 1 –
Increased competition in admission processes for elite colleges

– 2 –

Widespread adoption of transformational digital technology

– 3 –

Large and growing body of empirical research on how the brain works and how humans learn best

– 4 –

Steep increase in mental/behavioral health challenges among children

– 5 –

The need for curricula and instructional approaches to serve a diverse population and prepare students for a global community

– 6 –

Economic forces (e.g. cost of college, fluid job market)

– 7 –

The data revolution
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The Shipley School is a private, coeducational day school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, located in Bryn Mawr, PA. Through our commitment to educational excellence, we develop within each student a love of learning and a desire for compassionate participation in the world.