Welcome all students.

I’d like to speak to you this morning about an issue that’s close to my heart. Exams.

Every day it’s the same thing. You’ve got to get 80% on this paper or you’re going to fail. This is usually followed by tonnes of homework and expectations that you’ve got to stay till 6 o ’clock until the school’s caretaker closes its gates!

Isn’t it high time teachers realised that it’s more important for us to be happy than stressed about tests? School life would be much improved by including more fun activities such as quizzes, games and sporty challenges. The government’s latest research has shown that an extra hour of PE makes students’ brains more able to take in facts.

The school has its own priorities of getting superb results, but in recent years employers are placing higher values on social skills than exam success. These skills can’t be taught in examination lessons. It’s only in those precious moments of chill-out time during break and lunch that we’ve got a chance to develop our brains’ ability to speak with others.