Why Intentional Education Matters – And Why It’s at the Heart of The Green School

I recently stumbled across an article in Forbes that put a name to something we've been doing at The Green School for years: Intentional Education. Finally, a term that perfectly encapsulates our approach—where every aspect of a child’s learning experience is purposeful, personal, and deeply rooted in real-life relevance.

Our mission has always been clear: to nurture confident, capable young people who leave school with a strong sense of purpose, self-awareness, and the tools to be active, positive contributors to the world around them. But how we do that looks quite different from the traditional model—especially in the South African context.

At The Green School, we believe that authentic, meaningful education can’t happen by accident. It requires intention, design, and heart. That’s why our approach is grounded in the following key principles:

1. Connection is foundational – We foster deep relationships between students, teachers, and parents. Learning starts with belonging.

   
   

2. Personalised learning journeys – We use student data, assessments, and observations to design individualised pathways that honour each learner’s pace, needs, and interests.

   
   

3. Real-world skills and values – Our curriculum integrates emotional intelligence, collaboration, critical thinking, and global citizenship.

   
   

4. Goal setting and reflection – Students are empowered to set meaningful goals and reflect regularly, building metacognition and ownership. Our educators are also always goal-setting and reflecting.

   
   

5. Whole-child development – We educate for the head, heart, and hands—nurturing cognitive, emotional, social, and physical growth.

Each of these principles could warrant an article on their own. But together, they form the foundation of a truly intentional learning environment—one that is student-centred, responsive, and future-focused.

Intentional education is not one-size-fits-all. It’s not page 32 in the same textbook for everyone, worksheets copied en masse, or rigid schedules that ignore individual growth. Instead, it’s dynamic, flexible, and driven by the needs and aspirations of each learner.

What inspired me most about the Forbes article was the reassurance that we are not alone. Some of the most progressive and inspiring minds in education are championing the same philosophy. One standout is Mackenzie Price, founder of Alpha Schools, who reimagined the school for her own children. Their model includes just two hours of direct instruction daily from AI, with the rest of the time dedicated to social-emotional learning, passion projects, and real-life workshops. The result? Students consistently scoring in the top percentiles on international benchmark assessments.

So, I’ll end with this: what is the point of education if it isn’t intentional? Every moment of every day at The Green School is deliberately designed to be purpose-driven, deeply personal, and transformative.

This is not just how we teach—it’s who we are. We are preparing students not just for the next grade, but for the next generation.