Are We Missing the Point of Education?
Sammy Wright, headteacher in the NE has spent two decades in the classroom. In his book Exam Nation, he lays bare the uncomfortable truth: our education is failing our kids. How do we solve it?
Exams, grades, league tables, Ofsted reports—these are the pillars of modern schooling. But what if they’re also the very things undermining our approach to education?
For years, we’ve been told that success in school equals success in life. The right grades lead to the right university, which leads to the right job. But what about the students who don’t fit into that narrow framework? What about the ones who leave school with a string of letters after their name but little idea how to navigate the real world?
The Problem: Schools as Exam Factories
Sammy Wright, headteacher at Southmoor Academy and former Social Mobility Commissioner, has spent two decades in the classroom. In his book Exam Nation, he lays bare the uncomfortable truth: our education system is failing the very students it’s meant to serve.
By focusing relentlessly on academic results in neatly siloed subjects, we rank pupils—and their schools—into winners and losers. A select few are put on the university conveyor belt, while the rest are left ill-equipped for adulthood, lacking the skills, confidence, or opportunities to thrive in the world beyond the classroom.
But shouldn’t school be about more than just passing exams? Shouldn’t it be a place where young people learn how to think, create, solve problems, build relationships, and contribute to society?
The Solution: A Radical Rethink
Wright’s argument is clear: if we want real change, we need to stop treating education as a race to the top of a league table and start recognising it as a community-driven process that equips young people for life—not just for the next test paper.
At its best, a school isn’t just an institution. It’s a hub of opportunity, a place where young people develop resilience, independence, and a sense of purpose. It should prepare them for work, relationships, financial independence, and civic engagement—not just A-levels and university applications.
The Discussion: A Call for Change
On Saturday 1st March at 4.30pm, Wright will be in conversation with former Financial Times journalist and Now Teach co-founder Lucy Kellaway to explore the deeper questions about education:
What is school really for?
How do we measure success beyond exam results?
What role should schools play in tackling social inequality?
How can we build an education system that prepares all young people—not just the academically inclined—for the real world?
This promises to be an eye-opening discussion, filled with humour, insight, and bold ideas for a better way forward. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or simply someone who cares about the future of education, this is a conversation not to be missed.
🎟 Tickets: £10
📅 Saturday 1st March, 4.30pm