What Makes School Feel Relevant?

The new PISA results invite us to think beyond league tables. One of the more striking findings is how young people themselves make sense of school and learning.

In Germany, 33% of 15-year-olds agree that school is a waste of time. Only 41.5% say they're learning things there that could prove useful in their future careers. In the UK, the figures are 24% and 67% respectively.

So what actually makes school feel relevant and meaningful to young people?

This is where British boarding schools, with their holistic approach, have long had an edge. They recognised early on how important it is to support students' development beyond the classroom. They offer a rich co-curricular programme that meets pupils where they are, in their own world of interests and experiences. And they create real opportunities to take on responsibility and contribute to a wider community.

Add to that a fundamentally positive outlook teachers hold towards young people, and a grading system built around growth rather than pure performance, and you get an aspirational environment, one in which many pupils thrive, discovering things that stay with them, not least the idea that learning can actually be fun.

As one of our partner schools puts it:

"Because success isn't just about where you end up. It's about who you become along the way."
– Oakham School