TRIVIUM21c 

Trivium Schools are in the liberal arts tradition. They value knowledge, they encourage young people to join in, and expect that when they finally leave the institution they are ready to take a full part in society. This process occurs in a systematic way: Children are taught in a way that helps them to remember, as well as to think about and discuss their learning. Children are taught to practise, to absorb knowledge. Children are taught how to question, how to be critical thinkers in the context of their learning, how to think logically, analyse and compare. Pupils are expected to develop educated opinions and are given the space in which to develop and articulate their thoughts. Young people are given free reign to develop as fully independent learners, free to create, make mistakes, be successful and be resilient - they are able to give and receive criticism.

The ancient arts of the trivium combine in a way that enables teachers to develop these attributes in the context of the disciplines that they teach. This is no 'forced method', rather it is a method based on the great tradition of teaching and learning, where a teacher teaches 'stuff', pupils practice and question 'stuff' and then the pupil expresses their understanding by doing 'stuff'. Whether on a sports field or on stage, whether in a science or language lab, whether in a humanities classroom or a design workshop children are, through this teaching and learning ritual, able to become independent of their teacher because their teachers teach them so well.