Overview

For some random reason you find yourself in the following situation. You have been given the task of setting up a new education system in a country that has never had one before. It's a simple education system to start with and will have only two subjects, English and mathematics. Picture in your mind all the lovely little children, five years old, big smiles on their faces and keen to start this exciting adventure that is going to improve their prospects and then improve their country in oh so many ways. Make sure you have a picture of them in your mind. Have you got it? Good. Now here is your first question.(Question 1).How many of them do you want to pass?That's right. Look at all those innocent smiling faces in your mind. How many of them do you want to pass?Did you get your answer? I really do hope you said all of them. It will make my life so much easier from now on because if you did you are obviously an idiot. Well-meaning I grant you, but an idiot none the same.This book is a trip into the world of exams. Did you know that only 57% of pupils are allowed to pass English and mathematics at GCSE level? That no matter how hard everyone tries there will be a bottom 43% that fail. That is right, purposefully failed. What is this system that splits our children this way? This book looks at that system and the consequences of it for our children.