The Biggest Lie I Believed About Education — and What I Learned Instead

 

The Biggest Lie I Believed About Education - and What I Learned Instead

The idea that your life will be a failure if you do not pass your GCSEs might be the single biggest failure of the education system.

It piles on unnecessary stress, chips away at self-esteem and reduces learning to memorising facts for a test.

And honestly, what real life situation does it truly prepare us for?

Yes, it can be a next step.

But in life, if a path is blocked or the steps are broken, we find another way. Education should be the same.

I know this because I failed my GCSEs.

I took an Access to Higher Education course as an adult.

I even went to university with my eldest daughter in tow. She was two years old when I started. It was chaotic, messy and full of snack breaks, but we did it.

And I graduated with a First Class degree in Psychology, something none of my teachers, family or friends would have predicted.

Back then, I was the clumsy one who spoke without thinking, the kind of person people would smile at and say, “Bless her.” Nobody expected me to go far academically, but they were wrong.

That is why I can say with confidence that exams can be taken at any time.

And there are so many ways to get where you want to go:

• Access to Higher Education Diplomas
• BTECs and vocational qualifications
• Open University and distance learning
• Professional courses with flexible entry routes

How This Shaped Our Home Education Journey

Even with my own experience and knowing deep down that life can unfold in all sorts of ways beyond what is prescribed, I still fell into the trap.

I had a new found love of learning. Education mattered to me.

And the narrative that school and education are the same thing was so deeply ingrained in me.

It is in most of us.

But here is the truth: it is not school that matters, it is education.

Not learning for the sake of ticking boxes, but learning for a richer purpose.

When my daughter was 8, I was already worrying about exams.

I thought if I kept up with the curriculum, we would be safe.

So I pushed.

We had workbooks, full syllabuses, subscription boxes, craft kits with certificates.

It looked great on the shelf and it cost a fortune. Thousands in total over time.

And none of it worked for long.

The reality?

Stress.

Tears.

And surface level learning, just ticking boxes.

I felt like I had failed her.

It took me a while to trust that the curriculum is not the holy grail of education.

In fact, the opposite can be true. Stepping away from rigid plans can open the door to richer, deeper learning.

What Works for Us Now

Here is the thing: what works for us might not work for everyone, and that is OK.

If a strong curriculum led approach works for your child, that is great.

If being completely free flowing works, that is great too.

But if something is not working, you can flex.

That is the beauty of home education. School is school, but home education can be a beautiful journey into life.

For us, that means:

• Mini projects with a clear end point
• A steady rhythm of literacy and numeracy
• Outdoor adventures and fresh air
• Clubs and meet ups
• Noticing and building on learning when it happens naturally

We also read together, even though she is 12. It is a way to connect, to share a story and to talk about the characters and the plot, all without a worksheet in sight.

Sometimes it is something bold, like tackling the zip wires at Go Ape. My landings were far from graceful but we all survived.

Sometimes it is simple, like exploring a beach or visiting the café in Portland that is run by ex-prisoners, turning a lunch stop into a conversation about rehabilitation and second chances.

Sometimes it is weaving learning into a holiday, like our upcoming trip to Italy and Pompeii, where history will come alive in the very streets we have read about.

And often, it is the small stuff.

Beach days with friends.

Afternoons at the park.

Nature walks that turn into inspiration, especially when you take your best pen and let your imagination free.

We once sat under a tree and wrote about it, and the words that came were brilliant. I will admit the tree did most of the hard work just by being there.

Not every family can or wants to travel far, and that is OK.

The magic is not in the price tag, it is in the noticing.

A walk in your local park, a bus ride to a nearby town, or even a rainy afternoon at the library can spark the same kind of curiosity and connection.

Wonder & Scribble

You can create your own projects around your child’s interests, or if life is busy, pick up a Wonder & Scribble pack.

Every pack is tested by my daughter first. Hers are the biscuit crumb versions.

They are designed to spark curiosity without leaving you wondering what to do next.

One is complete and ready to use, and more are on the way. They take time, love and care to create, and I would not have it any other way.

Because home education is not about ticking boxes.

It is about building a life, and letting learning grow within it, wherever you are and whatever resources you have.