Everything is Interesting
Brightworks is a K-12 independent school in San Francisco, California that honors student agency and partners with children to explore—and change—the world. Founded by Gever Tulley in 2011, Brightworks is an outgrowth of Tinkering School (our camps and afterschool program), answering the question: Why can’t school be like this? The “this” being the hard work, fun, and immersive experience of a Tinkering camp, as the ground stuff of an education.
Our program based on the principle that everything is interesting. We trust that children are instinctual learners, and we honor their leadership and partnership in their educational path. The school frames topics for exploration and encourages children to take on projects they are passionate about, while also fostering the development of a multitude of skills. Students are full partners in their own education, and every child is known and understood by their collaborators and the staff. Collaborators strive to build bonds with the students, challenge them, support them, and create with them so each can find their most beautiful version of themselves.
Brightworks has influenced countless schools around the world and continues to be a model for what a child-driven, partnership-based, future-ready learning community looks like. See more at sfbrightworks.org.
How We Learn: The Arc
The Arc is the fundamental rhythm of a Brightworks education. With three major arcs each year, students move through a diverse course of study in a series of intensive immersions, emphasizing depth over breadth, integrating and contextualizing the development of skills and domain knowledge.
Founder Gever Tulley at TED
At TED U, Gever Tulley, founder of Tinkering School and Brightworks, spells out 5 dangerous things you should let your kids do — and why a little danger is good for both kids and grownups.