BaseCamp Live What the UK's Classical School Renewal Teaches Us with Jamie Burns
Nov 18, 2025
Jamie Burns, founder of the Fellowship for Classical Learning and British educator, shares insights on reviving classical Christian education in the UK. He contrasts his own conventional schooling with the rich discussions at home that shaped his worldview. Burns highlights significant shifts in education policy, advocating for knowledge-rich curricula amidst a backdrop of child-led models in Wales and Scotland. He emphasizes the urgent need for a character-centered approach in schools and encourages parents to consider classical education as a viable option.
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Home vs. School Formation
- Jamie describes two separate educations: a relativistic public school and a classical, conversation-rich home led by his father.
- He later recognized the mismatch and felt compelled to seek a cohesive classical Christian approach for his children.
Policy Shift Improved Outcomes
- England adopted knowledge-rich reforms influenced by E.D. Hirsch, raising reading and math PISA rankings dramatically.
- Phonics and mastery math became ubiquitous, showing policy can shift national outcomes quickly.
Twin-Study of Educational Models
- Wales and Scotland pursued child-led, teacher-as-guide models and diverged sharply from England's reforms.
- A natural 'twin study' across the UK offers real-world evidence favoring knowledge-rich instruction.
