Round Square Schools: What are they?

A Round Square school. Perhaps this term sounds vaguely familiar – it might be something you’ve stumbled across on a school website, or seen on their social media. Or maybe you’re reading this and scratching your head, having never encountered the label ‘Round Square’ at all. Whichever camp you’re in, whether you’re already considering a Round Square school or you’re simply curious as to what we’re talking about, this article is for you. Round Square is a global organisation of 280+ schools, with 18 in the UK; in this article we explain what sets these schools apart, how being part of Round Square impacts the student experience, and why one of these schools might be a great choice for your child. With expert insight from George Masters (Senior Deputy Head, Felsted School), you can get a clear picture of what the Round Square path could look like for your family – and you may find that even if you’ve never heard of it before, it turns out to be something you do want to consider!

What is a Round Square school and how does it work?

Let’s get down to business straightaway: what actually is Round Square? Round Square is an international community of more than 280 schools in 50 countries, who are united by the organisation’s ethos. These schools share a commitment to character education, developing the whole child, beyond just academics. They focus on hands-on, experiential learning – doing first, and describing later. Underpinning these approaches is a global outlook: Round Square schools collaborate internationally, value diversity, and champion the attitude that everyone can make a difference in the world. Founded in 1966 by educational leaders, the organisation was inspired by the educator and philosopher Kurt Hahn, whose motto 'plus est en vous' translates to ‘There is more in us than we know.’ A Round Square education is about discovering that inner strength, and using it for good.

George Masters (Senior Deputy Head, Felsted School), describes how this motto informs the approach at Felsted:

“Being part of Round Square reinforces Felsted’s core belief in aspiration, as captured in Kurt Hahn’s motto, ‘plus est en vous’; we aim to create an environment where our pupils have the courage to aim high, and not fear failure.”

What are the six Round Square IDEALS and 12 Discoveries?

Round Square structures its values as 6 IDEALS, which lead to 12 discoveries. The IDEALS are the central values underpinning the organisation and all its member schools – the roots of the tree, if you like. The discoveries are the attributes that students attain when they experience a Round Square education – the fruits borne by the tree.

The 6 Round Square IDEALS are as follows:

International Understanding
Democracy
Environmental Stewardship
Adventure
Leadership
Service

Exploring these values results in the following 12 discoveries:

Appreciation of Diversity
Commitment to Sustainability
Communication
Compassion
Courage
Inquisitiveness
Inventiveness
Problem-solving
Self-awareness
Sense of Responsibility
Teamwork
Tenacity

Choosing a Round Square school means setting your child on a learning journey designed to lead to these values. And this sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? As parents, we all want our son or daughter to have an education that matures them into a compassionate, brave, driven individual. But how does it actually work? How does being in a Round Square school practically enrich our children’s education in the day-to-day? Talking about values and virtues can feel a bit wishy-washy and theoretical, so let’s get down to the details.

What does a Round Square education look like day to day?

Firstly, a strong Round Square school designs its whole provision around the central RS IDEALS. Take a look at the website of your chosen school: what have they got going on? What co-curricular clubs are they actively running? What opportunities are available to students? You’ll see evidence of the Round Square values in what the school offers. Perhaps they’re involved in Model United Nations, growing international understanding and democracy. Maybe they offer some form of outdoor learning, cultivating adventure and environmental awareness. Or maybe they are active in their charity work for the local community, creating an ethos of service. The Round Square values form the foundation for school life, and feed into everything. George Masters explains what this looks like at Felsted:

“The Round Square IDEALS underpin much of the school’s daily practice, from fundraising for international charities to adventurous activities in the Combined Cadet Force and DofE, service and leadership in the school prefect body, and the representative value of pupil voice.”

What are the benefits of choosing a Round Square school?

Now, you may have noticed that none of our examples so far are unique to Round Square schools – lots of schools offer the Duke of Edinburgh Award, a student leadership system, and charity work, even if they’re not a member of Round Square. This is absolutely correct: independent education in the UK is renowned for its breadth of co-curricular opportunities, and many schools that are not part of Round Square offer an outstanding all-round provision that promotes similar values. However, there are some activities which are completely unique to Round Square – and this is where it gets very cool indeed.

Holy Trinity College Argentina visit Felsted

How do Round Square school exchanges work and what do they cost?

Round Square schools participate in international exchanges. This rare and exciting programme enables students to go and study abroad, at another Round Square school in a different country. There is no cost to participate in the exchange, because everything is covered by the host school; families only need to fund the flights. Placements are usually a number of weeks long, and are arranged flexibly throughout the year to fit with the schedules of the schools and students taking part. They’re often over the holidays, so you don’t need to worry about your child falling behind with their regular schoolwork! An exchange trip like this is a novel and often life-changing adventure. Students step out of their comfort zones, experience full immersion in a different culture, and forge new friendships that often last well beyond the period of the placement. It’s a chance to grow in confidence and resilience, and to gain invaluable international understanding. In addition, there are benefits to the exchange programme even if your child doesn’t actually go on any exchanges. As well as sending students abroad, Round Square schools in the UK receive international students, who come and enrich the life of the school with their diversity of background, perspective and insight. The whole school community becomes more international, more collaborative, and more inclusive.

What happens at Round Square student conferences?

Another unique Round Square opportunity is their conferences, both physical and virtual. Once a year, there is an international conference, which can be attended by 6 or more students and 1 or 2 adults from each school. Alongside this, there are an additional 16-20 conferences hosted around the world throughout the year. These events invite collaborative discussion about global issues; children have the chance not only to speak for themselves, but to hear the perspectives of their peers around the globe. It’s another active application of Round Square’s internationally minded, learning-by-doing approach. Often, the conferences also feature inspiring guest speakers, and hands-on workshops with local communities, providing a rich and varied learning experience for the participating students.

What are Round Square International Service projects and are bursaries available?

A third thing available to students at Round Square schools is international service projects. As the name suggests, these are overseas trips with the specific purpose of serving, for example by constructing a school building, installing solar panels on a community centre, or conducting an ocean cleanup. These projects actively make a difference in communities around the world; they foster compassion, environmental stewardship, and a responsible outlook. Some parents worry about the cost of such activities – surely an extensive international trip of this nature would be too much to afford on top of school fees. This is a very real concern, but Round Square frequently offers generous bursaries towards participating in the service projects, making them an affordable option for many families.

Across all these opportunities, students are encouraged to be bold and courageous. As George Masters reflects,

“Felstedians benefit from a range of Round Square learning opportunities, which include international student exchanges, global conferences and service projects. These develop their characteristics by challenging them further beyond their comfort zones.”

What online Round Square opportunities can students join from school?

As well as these large-scale trips, Round Square schools offer many opportunities that can be accessed from school itself, without having to travel. Students can contribute to global collaborative projects, which can be everything from photography magazines and art portfolios to mental health research projects and even games. They can also join weekly ‘Zoom postcards’. These are video calls hosted by a Round Square school anywhere in the world; the host students give a presentation, inviting discussion and debate from the participants. Zoom postcards are age-differentiated to provide valuable cultural insight for students in different stages of their school journey.

Finally, Round Square schools offer international ‘study labs’. These are online meetings that run alongside the curriculum, providing a space to think more deeply and collaboratively about the things students are learning from day to day. If your child studies Spanish, for example, they’ll have the chance to practise their speaking skills in conversation with native speakers. Again, Round Square enriches the whole learning experience, academic and otherwise, with its aspirational opportunities.

Is a Round Square school right for your child?

Of course, it’s always worth remembering that an opportunity is worthless if not taken. Enrolling your child in a Round Square school is not the end of the story: if you want them to experience the full benefits of Round Square, you’ll need to be prepared to support them with getting stuck in. The more they get involved with the activities on offer, the greater the benefits they will reap – and the more their character will develop in those 12 RS discoveries.

Last of all, let us not forget that as well as being highly beneficial, these Round Square opportunities are just great fun! We all want our children to enjoy school, and to remember their teenage years fondly. Choosing Round Square enables your child to learn life skills, grow in empathy and reach beyond the academic, all whilst having fun. As we increasingly come to understand the vital importance of wellbeing in schools, this is a point not to be overlooked!

George Masters summarises why a Round Square school is worth looking at:

“Parents should consider a Round Square school like Felsted because pupils benefit from a holistic boarding-led education, where global competency is valued as a core part of the education of the whole person. By choosing this environment, parents ensure their children are best prepared for the future, with the skills necessary to lead and serve in an integrated global society.”

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Round Square is an international community of schools committed to character education, experiential learning, and a global outlook.
Round Square schools offer unique and exciting opportunities, from international exchanges and service projects to conferences and collaborations.
If you’re looking for an all-round education that strives towards cultural enrichment, empathy, resilience and courage, a Round Square school is worth considering.