Island schools have long faced challenges that are distinct from their mainland counterparts. Geographical isolation, limited resources, and demographic changes can make it difficult for educators in these regions to offer the same level of opportunity found in more populated areas. Yet, in the face of these challenges, island schools are also proving to be fertile grounds for educational innovation, creating unique learning environments that not only cater to local needs but also provide global insights into future-ready education.
The Virtual Island Summit 2024 offered a glimpse into this growing trend through a session sponsored by the Edge Foundation. The session, titled “Island Schools – Leading Global Innovation,” highlighted how island schools across the globe are emerging as leaders in educational innovation through digital transformation, inclusive and flexible curricula, and international partnerships. Moderated by Olly Newton, Executive Director of the Edge Foundation, the session brought together educators and policymakers who discussed how island schools are overcoming challenges to deliver equitable and high-quality education.
The Role of Island Schools in Global Education
Island schools serve a unique population of learners who often experience educational isolation due to the geographical constraints of living on small and remote islands. However, these schools are proving that such isolation can foster creativity, resilience, and innovation. Island schools are not only addressing local challenges, but they are also leading global conversations on sustainability, community involvement, and digital transformation in education. They play a vital role in ensuring that children on islands receive a rich and diverse educational experience, preparing them for a globalised world while maintaining a deep connection to their local cultures and environments.
As island schools confront limited teaching staff, fluctuating student numbers, and financial constraints, they are finding new ways to use technology and partnerships to bridge these gaps. From online learning platforms to cross-cultural exchanges, these schools are offering innovative models of education that have the potential to inspire other educational institutions around the world.
Edge Foundation: Shaping the Future of Education
The Edge Foundation is a UK-based independent foundation committed to reshaping education by promoting practical learning experiences and equipping young people with the skills needed for the workforce of tomorrow. Focused on making education more relevant and engaging for 21st-century students, the Foundation has been a dedicated sponsor of the Virtual Island Summit since VIS2020, recognizing the innovative approaches of island schools in advancing these goals.
Through its initiatives, the Edge Foundation highlights the value of vocational training and real-world learning, advocating for stronger connections between education and employment. Island schools, deeply embedded in their communities, offer valuable insights into how these principles can be effectively applied, providing inspiration for the broader education sector.
Five Islands Academy: A Case Study in Transformation
One of the standout presentations at the session came from Rachel Lewin, Deputy Head Teacher at Five Islands Academy on the Isles of Scilly, a small island group off the southwestern coast of England. Lewin shared her school’s journey from isolation and fragmentation to a unified and forward-thinking institution that now offers “Learning Without Limits” for all its students.
The Isles of Scilly face significant logistical challenges due to their remote location. For years, this had an impact on the quality of education offered to the island’s children. However, through the adoption of technology, a revised curriculum, and new partnerships, the Five Islands Academy has transformed itself into a thriving educational institution. Lewin discussed the school’s transformation after joining a Multi-Academy Trust, which brought in fresh leadership while preserving the unique character of the island school.
Key to the school’s success has been its focus on sustainability and community engagement. The curriculum includes topics like sustainable farming, ocean conservation, and climate change, with partnerships formed with local farmers, universities, and environmental organisations. These connections not only provide students with practical learning experiences but also ensure that their education is grounded in the local realities of island life. The school has also prioritised inclusivity, ensuring that all students, regardless of their strengths and challenges, have access to high-quality education. Its focus on restorative practices and a “relational” culture has earned it recognition from the Restorative Justice Council in the UK.
Lewin’s story of leading a once-struggling school to become a national leader in educational outcomes is a powerful example of how island schools when given the right tools and support, can overcome challenges and achieve remarkable success.
e-Sgoil: Digital Transformation in the Western Isles
Another innovative example discussed during the session was e-Sgoil, an online learning service based in the Western Isles of Scotland. Richard Tarves shared the story of how this initiative began as a response to a teacher shortage in 2016 and quickly grew into a national model for digital education. By using video conferencing technology, e-Sgoil was able to match teaching capacity with demand, ensuring that students in smaller and more remote schools had access to high-quality education.
The online learning approach adopted by e-Sgoil proved to be ahead of its time, providing an educational safety net that became crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even before the pandemic, the flexibility of the model allowed teachers to deliver lessons to students across the islands and beyond, helping to address the inequities that often exist between larger, mainland schools and smaller island schools. The service has since expanded to offer evening and holiday study support, as well as work-related learning, all of which have been well-received by learners across Scotland.
The success of e-Sgoil speaks to the power of digital transformation in education and the potential for online learning to provide equitable educational opportunities in even the most remote locations. Tarves also highlighted the importance of maintaining local culture and heritage, noting that although the majority of residents in the Western Isles primarily speak English, the school’s Gaelic name reflects a commitment to preserving the island’s linguistic and cultural identity.
The Erasmus Plus Project: International Collaboration for Island Schools
The session also featured discussions on the “Island Schools” project, part of the European Union’s Erasmus Plus program. Representatives from the University of Alstad, William Quike and Christina Rundel, described this three-year project, which brought together partners from five European countries—Greece, Iceland, Scotland, Spain, and the Netherlands. The project focused on facilitating sustainable education and community development for island schools across Europe.
A key element of the project was the use of the backcasting methodology, where schools and their partners envisioned an ideal future and then worked backwards to determine the steps needed to achieve it. This approach helped the project focus on practical solutions to shared challenges, such as ocean plastic pollution and sustainable tourism. By working together, the island schools were able to combine place-based learning, where students explored the unique challenges and opportunities of their own islands, with international collaboration that allowed them to learn from the experiences of their peers in other countries.
The project resulted in several outputs, including policy briefs for island schools and teaching materials focused on sustainability. These resources are now being used by schools across Europe to ensure that their curricula are not only preparing students for the future but also actively contributing to the sustainability of their island communities.
The Importance of Policy and Collaboration
One of the recurring themes throughout the session was the importance of tailored policies and international collaboration in supporting island schools. Speakers emphasized that island schools often face unique challenges, such as declining populations and limited resources, which require flexible and innovative solutions. By working together and sharing their experiences, island schools can develop strategies that address these challenges while preserving the unique aspects of their local cultures and environments.
Cultural exchange between island schools was also highlighted as a key benefit of international collaboration. Although geographical barriers can make such exchanges difficult, speakers shared examples of how students from islands as far apart as Scotland and Greece were able to come together and find common ground in their shared experiences of island life. These exchanges not only help to broaden students’ horizons but also foster a sense of global citizenship that is becoming increasingly important in today’s interconnected world.
Empowering Ambition and Leadership at Mill Academy
Kisma Jn Pierre, Founder and Principal of Mill Academy in Antigua & Barbuda, shared her inspiring journey of turning a childhood dream into reality. Mill Academy, founded with the aim of creating educational opportunities for all students, particularly those facing financial barriers, has grown into a thriving institution. Kisma emphasized the role of island schools in providing a nurturing environment where students are encouraged to dream big and think beyond traditional academic success.
At Mill Academy, education goes beyond classroom learning, integrating leadership, emotional intelligence, and entrepreneurial thinking into the curriculum. This holistic approach prepares students to become critical thinkers, innovators, and problem solvers who can contribute to both local and global communities.
Innovation and Mental Health at Bermuda High School for Girls
Carol Swainson, Principal of Bermuda High School for Girls, discussed her school’s 130-year legacy and its commitment to fostering intellectual curiosity, community consciousness, and resilient independence among its students. As part of the prestigious Round Square network, Bermuda High School integrates global perspectives with its island-based curriculum, focusing on international relations, environmental stewardship, and the democratic process. Carol highlighted the school’s innovative approach to learning, which includes the establishment of an on-campus innovation centre— the only one of its kind on the island.
The centre provides students with hands-on experience in problem-solving and leadership, fostering confidence and independence. Swainson also spoke about the school’s efforts to address the growing mental health challenges among students, a challenge exacerbated by the pandemic. Initiatives like reducing social media use and promoting in-person interactions have been implemented to improve student well-being.
Island Schools as Leaders in Educational Innovation
The Virtual Island Summit session sponsored by The Edge Foundation showcased the vital role that island schools are playing in shaping the future of global education. Through digital transformation, innovative curricula, and international collaboration, these schools are proving that isolation is not a barrier to innovation. In fact, it can be a catalyst for creativity, resilience, and forward-thinking approaches to education.
From the success of Five Islands Academy in the Isles of Scilly to the digital transformation of e-Sgoil in the Western Isles of Scotland, island schools are leading the way in providing equitable and high-quality education to students in even the most remote locations. Through projects like “Island Schools” under the Erasmus Plus program, these schools are also contributing to the global conversation on sustainability and community development, proving that island schools have much to teach the world about the future of education.
As the world grapples with the challenges of the 21st century, island schools are offering a model of how education can be both local and global, rooted in the unique challenges and opportunities of island life while preparing students to lead in an interconnected and rapidly changing world. With the support of organisations like the Edge Foundation, the innovations happening in island schools today are sure to have a lasting impact on the future of education.
