Walter is the Co-founder & CEO of Oppidan Education, supporting thousands of children through one-to-one mentoring privately and in schools around the world. He also set up the Oppidan Foundation to address a shortfall in the current education system and was this year nominated as one of Forbes’ 30 social entrepreneurs under 30.

In this bout, we discuss Walter’s journey and route into challenging the way that conventional ‘tutoring’ is delivered, before discussing how and why the traditional education system is being questioned more and more in recent years. This coincides with a big theme of why I started this podcast seeing as I felt that the narrative around my school and uni education lead down a path that ultimately wasn’t fulfilling. We finish by discussing the importance of 1-1 mentorship at all ages of life, and speculate about the future of the education system.

Round 1: (01:03) Walter’s journey to setting up Oppidan & why he did so.

Round 2: (10:57) Thoughts on the Education System and the future of it.

Round 3: (30:29) The importance of 1-1 mentorship.

Final round: (36:28) Walter’s definition of Success. How Walter thinks the Education System will be different in 10 years. Walter’s Unboxing Ringwalk.

Discussed in the podcast:

Eton headmaster dismissed: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/dec/03/gavin-williamson-in-eton-mess-as-he-pitches-into-no-girls-policy

Headmistress Katharine Birbalsingh's Michaela Academy: https://mcsbrent.co.uk/

Matthew Syed on failure in schools: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/failure-is-a-lesson-our-children-must-master-zfd5875km

Sir Anthony Seldon on Character Education: https://www.worldvaluesday.com/good-character-matters-more-than-passing-exams-sir-anthony-seldon/