Series 17 Episode 200 (Part 3): Andrew Donnelly & Neil Wolstenholme: Doing things differently
The Game Changers podcast celebrates those true pioneers in education who are building schools for tomorrow. In episode 200 (Part 3) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Andrew Donnelly & Neil Wolstenholme!
Andrew Donnelly has worked in the education sector since 2008 and is driven by a deep passion for transforming how we prepare young people for life beyond the classroom. Convinced that the global education system often fails to serve the true needs of students, he co-founded Kloodle in 2014 to help shift the focus from grades alone to a more holistic view of individual potential.
Inspired by Sir Ken Robinson’s renowned TED Talk on creativity in education, Andrew and his co-founders recognised that academic achievement is just one piece of the puzzle. Schools, he believes, have become production lines, churning out students who often lack the self-awareness, creativity, and adaptability required for a fulfilling life and career.
Kloodle was created to highlight and value the meaningful experiences young people gain through enrichment, peer interaction, and real-world skill development - what Andrew calls the "transferable skills currency." These are the traits that employers truly value and that enable students to thrive in an unpredictable and fast-changing world.
A decade into the journey, Andrew and his team stand on the brink of significant change, backed by a growing community of like-minded educators, employers, and institutions who share the vision of a reimagined education system - one that equips young people not just for exams, but for purpose, happiness, and lifelong success.
Neil Wolstenholme has had a long and varied journey across education, business and life. What he’s learned along the way is that it’s not exam results that define a person—it’s their skills, character and how they respond to the challenges they face. For Neil, qualifications are just hoops to jump through; nobody ever asks what A-levels you got when deciding whether you’re kind, dependable or capable.
An exceptionally talented sportsman who played football at a very high level in his younger days, Neil sees clear parallels between the grit, resilience and teamwork forged on the pitch and the attributes which underpin success and contentment in life. It’s these lived experiences, and the people he’s met along the way, which have shaped his belief in the lifelong value of character.
The Game Changers podcast is produced by Evan Phillips supported by a School for tomorrow (aschoolfortomorrow.com), and powered by CIRCLE. The podcast is hosted on SoundCloud and distributed through Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. Please subscribe and tell your friends you like what you are hearing. You can contact us at
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