Exam Nation: Why Our Obsession with Grades Fails Everyone – and a Better Way to Think About School

Sammy Wright's book exposes the misconception at the heart of our education system, which focuses on academic subjects and ranks pupils and schools into winners and losers. He proposes a better way to approach education, balancing idealism and pragmatism, and shows how schools can be more than just winners and losers.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 15 August 2024
Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Exams, grades, league tables, and Ofsted reports are all part of the education system, but they often miss the point of what school is really about. Sammy Wright, a head teacher with twenty years of experience, has written a book called "The Point of School" that exposes the fundamental misconception at the heart of our education system. Wright argues that by focusing on academic subjects and ranking pupils and schools into winners and losers, we are missing the opportunity to provide a holistic education that prepares students for the world they will face.

Wright's book is a compelling read that offers a thoughtful and considered analysis of the realities and blindspots of the education system. He draws on his experience as a teacher, hundreds of interviews, and his work on the UK Government's Social Mobility Commission to make his case.

One of the key points Wright makes is that schools should be more than just places where students get grades in academic subjects. Schools should be places where students develop their skills, values, and character. They should be places where students are encouraged to think critically, solve problems, and work collaboratively.

Wright's book offers a range of solutions to the problems he identifies. He suggests that schools should focus on developing the whole child, rather than just their academic abilities. He also suggests that schools should be more flexible and adaptable, so that they can meet the needs of all students.

Wright's book has received widespread praise from educators and policymakers. Laura McInerney, co-founder of Teacher Tapp, describes it as "an extraordinary and brilliant book" that tells the truth about Britain's national exam obsession and the harm it does. Richard Beard, a teacher and author, calls it "a tremendous book, like the best lesson ever – informed, funny, fair."

Anthony Seldon, a historian and former headmaster, says that Wright's book is "finally, a book that tells the truth about Britain's national exam obsession - and the harm it does." Simon Jenkins, a journalist and author, calls it "a brilliant book" that "should be read by everyone who cares about education."

In conclusion, Sammy Wright's book "The Point of School" is a compelling and important read that offers a thoughtful and considered analysis of the realities and blindspots of the education system. Wright's solutions to the problems he identifies are practical and achievable, and his book has received widespread praise from educators and policymakers. If you are interested in education, I highly recommend reading this book.

Weight: 490g
Dimension: 162 x 241 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781847927521