School's out - and the young are left unprepared for life's real tests

A recent report says that nearly half of young people feel unready for adult life after finishing school. I'd argue the real figure is probably much higher-they just haven't realised it yet.

- Rebecca Jane

We continue to educate children as though they're living in the past. Exams take priority, while essential skills - things they'll need every day once they step outside the classroom-are left off the syllabus.

Most pupils leave school knowing how to write a five-paragraph essay, but not how to read a payslip or manage a basic budget. They're taught to memorise facts, not handle real-life tasks like booking a train journey, paying a bill, or even understanding a tenancy agreement. Let's be clearthis isn't a failure of the students. It's a failure of the system.