Revolutionize Schools Life with 8 Key Lessons from Creating the Schools Our Children Need

Published: 16 Apr 2025

Have you ever wondered how we can make schools better for all children? In Creating the Schools Our Children Need, Dylan Wiliam shares powerful ideas on improving education for every student, not just a few.

Wiliam explains how teachers, students, and parents can collaborate to create a supportive learning environment. With real-life examples and research, he shows that small changes in teaching can lead to big improvements.

The book focuses on the importance of assessment, feedback, and constant growth. It offers simple, actionable steps to help schools reach every child’s potential.

Must-read book Creating the Schools Our Children Need by Dylan Wiliam to revolutionize education — Revolutionize the education system with Creating the Schools Our Children Need by Dylan Wiliam

This book encourages you to change the educational system if you’re ready to do so.

Table of Content

Lessons from the Dylan Wiliam's Book
Quotes from Creating the Schools Our Children Need
Reviews of this Book from Famous People
Conclusion

Lessons from the Dylan Wiliam’s Book

Life lessons from Creating the Schools Our Children Need by Dylan Wiliam with book cover — Key life lessons drawn from Creating the Schools Our Children Need by Dylan Wiliam

1. Focus on Learning, Not Teaching:

William argues that education should focus on student learning rather than just teacher instruction. The shift from a teacher-centred to a learner-centred approach is key.

In this approach, students become active participants in their knowledge and take responsibility for their progress.

Practical Tip:

Try incorporating activities where students teach each other. This action will promote active learning and help them take ownership of their knowledge.

2. Assessment for Learning:

Wiliam highlights that examination should support learning, not just measure progress. Formative assessments provide useful feedback that helps students and teachers understand where improvement is needed.

Practical Tip:

Use quick quizzes or polls at the end of each lesson to gather feedback. This will help you adjust your teaching to meet student needs immediately.

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3. Embrace Diversity and Inclusion:

Creating inclusive classrooms is crucial for student success. Wiliam stresses that students’ unique strengths, interests, and backgrounds should be celebrated and incorporated into learning activities.

Practical Tip:

Make sure your classroom activities are varied and can be tailored to different learning styles. This way, all students, regardless of background, feel included and can thrive.

4. Promote Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills:

Students need to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a world of challenges. In his book Creating the Schools Our Children Need, he encourages a curriculum that pushes students to think deeply and solve real-world problems.

Practical Tip:

Create real-life scenarios for students to solve in groups. This helps them practice problem-solving in a collaborative environment.

5. Foster Collaboration and Communication:

Collaboration and communication are vital for students to succeed in today’s world. Wiliam suggests that schools should offer plenty of opportunities for students to work together and express their ideas clearly.

Practical Tip:

Set up group projects where students must present their ideas to the class. This practice helps you build teamwork and communication skills.

6. Cultivate Growth Mindset:

William believes that students should have a growth mindset, indicating that they should think they can improve through effort and persistence. He suggests that educators should encourage students to embrace challenges, learn from failure, and persist in facing challenges.

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Encouraging this mindset helps students face challenges and learn from mistakes.

Practical Tip:

Praise effort, not just success. When students struggle, remind them that challenges are opportunities to grow.

7. Continuous Improvement and Professional Learning:

Wiliam stresses that teachers should always strive for growth by embracing professional development. He suggests creating a culture of collaboration where educators reflect on their teaching, share effective strategies, and work together to improve their skills.

Teachers should engage in reflection and share best practices to improve their teaching.

Practical Tip:

Set aside time each week to reflect on your teaching and discuss ideas with colleagues. Small changes can make a big difference in the classroom.

8. Engage Families and Communities:

William emphasizes that schools cannot succeed alone. They need to actively involve families and communities in the education process. For this purpose, Dylan William advocates building strong partnerships between schools, families, and community organizations to support student learning, promote positive outcomes, and address students’ diverse needs.

Strong partnerships help address students’ needs and improve outcomes.

Practical Tip:

Create regular opportunities for parents to engage with the school, such as parent-teacher meetings or community events. This keeps families involved and invested in their child’s education.

Quotes from Creating the Schools Our Children Need

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“The best way to improve education is to improve teaching.”

“Assessment is not about testing. It is about learning.”

“We do not need more testing; we need more teaching.”

“Good teaching is not about telling students what they know; it’s about helping them understand.”

“Teaching is a craft that can be learned and improved.”

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Reviews of this Book from Famous People

Chris Wejr
Wiliam makes it fairly clear what we need to focus on in schools in his latest book. Using research to support his statements (something can be lacking in education), he brings to light the importance of a knowledge-based curriculum and the need for ongoing formative assessment in every classroom to create the schools kids need. I would recommend this book to other educators… especially those with formal leadership roles in schools and districts .

Chris Wejr

Wiliam makes it fairly clear what we need to focus on in schools in his latest book. Using research to support his statements (something can be lacking in education), he brings to light the importance of a knowledge-based curriculum and the need for ongoing formative assessment in every classroom to create the schools kids need. I would recommend this book to other educators… especially those with formal leadership roles in schools and districts .

Stuart Macalpine
A good overview of ‘everything that Dylan Wiliam normally says’… but that is worth reading, and if you don’t know what he normally says then an important read. I found myself thinking ‘every Governor of a school should read this’. It provides a neat overview of how to make the learning better and provides plenty of research to establish the arguments.

Eduardo Hoppenstedt
Some of the ideas are brilliant, and the systematic analysis of what works and what doesn’t is great. I have some issues with the conclusions as I think the author does not criticize cultural aspects of education that would enable us to redesign the system in a more radical way. But it is a good book with solid research that will bring more benefits than harm to any educator, administrator or school leader that chooses to implement the author’s recommendations.

Eduardo Hoppenstedt

Some of the ideas are brilliant, and the systematic analysis of what works and what doesn’t is great. I have some issues with the conclusions as I think the author does not criticize cultural aspects of education that would enable us to redesign the system in a more radical way. But it is a good book with solid research that will bring more benefits than harm to any educator, administrator or school leader that chooses to implement the author’s recommendations.

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Deborah Quazzo
Great book – perpetual formative assessment that is invisible to the student is the answer to driving learning outcomes for all students and supporting teachers of all levels of ability. And Dylan comes at his argument with facts and by elevating the role of teachers and thoughtfully debunking other strategies as lacking essential scale for the most part.

André Henriques
Great book that offers a straightforward perspective on many essential education topics, like curriculum, teachers’ training, etc. Dylan Wiliam always offers a sustained view without too much scientifical jargon.

Conclusion

As we conclude our exploration of Creating the Schools Our Children Need, it’s clear that transforming education requires a shift in our thinking about teaching and learning.

Dylan Wiliam’s insights show that small changes in our approach to assessment, feedback, and collaboration can greatly impact student success. Schools should be where every child has the support they need to thrive, regardless of background or challenges.

Creating the Schools Our Children Need is a must-read book for anyone invested in improving education, whether you’re a teacher, parent, or policymaker. Wiliam provides practical advice that empowers us to make real, lasting changes in our schools, ensuring every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

By embracing the ideas in this book, we can build a future where education is a true force for growth and success for all students.

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