Grades are important, but they are not the only measure.

I have come to understand that exam grades are not the only purpose of schools, and grades a{#blank#}1{#/blank#} are not enough.

    Studies show that some of the high-flying students have troubled lives, finding it difficult to get good jobs or become great parents or partners. A{#blank#}2{#/blank#} graduation, students come to realize what they have learned at school has not really prepared them for the next step.

    Increasingly, teachers are getting to know the idea of "learning from our failures. "If you've never failed at anything, you've certainly never t{#blank#}3{#/blank#} anything new. Exam grades are important and we encourage all students to aim high and to do well. But they don't m{#blank#}4{#/blank#}success.

    I once asked my students to consider the chef Gordon Ramsay, and how he became so successful. They were surprised to find that he didn't have a good performance at school and he didn't s{#blank#}5{#/blank#}become a great chef. In an interview, he explained that he worked long hours for very little money, learning everything he could, He took chances even if they seemed i{#blank#}6{#/blank#}He made mistakes but he cheered himself up and moved forward. His success didn't come from grades, it came from his character: courage, effort and confidence.

We should develop social skills through the whole school as an important p{#blank#}7{#/blank#} of learning.

    This is why there is a focus on performance, sport and other activities. These life skills will work hand-in-hand with knowledge to enable students to do well in their future life.