Schools Focus On Top Exam Grades... But Fail In Real Life

Teenagers today can quote Shakespeare and solve tricky maths problems. But ask them how to budget a payslip, apply for a mortgage, or start a small business, and you’ll often get silence.

As parents, we all want our children to do well in exams. But deep down, we also know the truth: good grades aren’t enough anymore.

Young people need confidence, people skills and a sense of purpose if they’re going to thrive in the real world.

Why exams aren’t enough

Employers are already saying it. They want young people who can communicate, work in a team, and think for themselves.

The World Economic Forum predicts that creativity and problem-solving will be the most valuable skills of the future. Yet our schools still focus on rote memorisation and high-stakes tests.

It’s no surprise that one in five children is now regularly missing school. If lessons don’t feel relevant, why would they want to turn up?

What I learnt at Summerhill

Over the past year I’ve been working in the science department at Summerhill School in Leiston, Suffolk,
a school famous for letting children lead their own learning.

Here, pupils choose their lessons and even vote on the school rules. Parents take a step back and allow passions to develop naturally.

It may sound chaotic, but it isn’t. It’s powerful. I’ve seen quiet children find their voice,
and teenagers who struggled in traditional classrooms suddenly flourish.

Founder A.S. Neill once wrote: “A child is innately wise and realistic. If left to himself without adult suggestion of any kind, he will develop as far as he is capable of developing.”

When children feel trusted, they grow, not just in knowledge, but in confidence and character.

Can technology help?

Many parents worry that screens and apps are replacing teachers. And they’re right to.
Surveys show the vast majority of parents would always prefer a skilled teacher over a computer programme. Human connection, encouragement and inspiration simply can’t be replaced.

But here’s the reality: we are already living in the tech age. Used in the right way, EdTech can be a powerful partner. It can spot gaps in a child’s knowledge within minutes, free up teachers from endless marking, and personalise learning so no child slips through the cracks.

The key is balance. Parents don’t want a machine instead of a teacher.
But they do want their children to benefit from smart tools that make education quicker, sharper and more relevant.
When technology works alongside a passionate tutor, the results can be transformational.

School, Reloaded

This is what inspired me to create Tutor Master’s Immersive Learning Hub,
a place where children learn for life, not just for exams.

At its heart is nature. Forest-style classrooms, coral reef tanks and gardens will bring ecology and conservation into daily learning.
Children will grow food, test water, and care for living ecosystems.
They’ll discover first-hand why protecting the planet matters, tying directly into the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for climate action and conservation.

Alongside this, children will take part in “life labs” where they learn the basics of money budgeting, mortgages, taxes, and even how to start a business.
Soft skills like debating, presenting and teamwork will be built into every project.

And crucially, it’s all led by engaging tutors. At Tutor Master, we believe the number one quality a tutor must have is charisma.
If a tutor can’t capture a child’s imagination, the lesson is lost.
That’s why we handpick only those teachers who can spark curiosity and build trust, not just deliver content.

It’s an ethos that has earned us recognition as a provider reviewed and recommended by the Good Schools Guide, a badge of quality trusted by parents nationwide.

It’s school, but re-imagined: passionate tutors supported by smart technology, inspiring spaces, and lessons that prepare children for the real world.

Inspiration from abroad

There are schools around the world already proving how powerful this approach can be.
At Alpha Academy in Texas, children spend just a fraction of their day on core academic subjects,
using technology to master them more quickly, then devote the rest of their time to passion projects, life skills and wellbeing.

The results are remarkable. Students are not only progressing twice as fast academically,
but also report higher levels of confidence and motivation.
Crucially, they say they enjoy school…something many British children have forgotten is possible.

Why this matters for your child

As parents, we want our children to leave school ready for life. Ready to earn, to adapt, to thrive. Ready to care for the world around them.

Exams will always matter, but they are not enough. Our children deserve an education that sparks curiosity, builds resilience, and gives them the tools to succeed far beyond the classroom.

Summerhill showed me what happens when children are trusted.
Alpha Academy shows what’s possible when schools rethink how learning is delivered.
The Immersive Learning Hub is my way of bringing those ideas home—blending freedom, passion, technology and nature into something truly life-changing.

The real test

So here’s the question every parent should ask themselves: Do I want my child to leave school with just a string of grades, or with the confidence and skills to take on the world?

Because passing exams is one thing. But passing life is the real test.