Where provides the best education for senior school in the world?

[mangomammoth]

Where do you think provides the best education for the senior school years and why do you think they are better than the U.K. system?
My dc is about to finish primary school and I'm pretty disappointed in the English system so I'm daydreaming about better systems!! Feel like they've squished so much information in as dc instead of enjoying these years.

The Finnish system seems pretty good. They are near the top of the PISA table yet (or perhaps because) streaming and selection are actually illegal in Finland.

They value their teachers very highly and they only accept about 8% of applicants into teacher training. There are no SATS etc (and no tests at all until children are 18) and no league tables. All schools are equally good and everyone just goes to their local school.

They also value equality of access to education so every child has an equal right to an individual education, personalised learning paths and a whole education focused on problem-solving skills and life skills, instead of mindless regurgitation of facts.

So basically the complete opposite of our system.

@feralunderclass actually in Ireland if you are applying to art college you will get points for your portfolio which will count so you don't need to be very very academic. I only know this as a friend's son is in art school and there was great excitement when he was awarded a very high amount of points for his portfolio which took the pressure off but yes he did still need a decent grade in English and Maths so I get what you are saying.

There's a school which has each term in a different country - also https://www.seamester.com/ I have heard good things about for gap year students.

Money no object, complete fluency in another language and eventually an Ivy League after careful planning.

@mangomammoth I think doing a general year in university where you could do a range of subjects you think you might be interested in before you commit to your degree would be much better, I believe this is the case in US? I know so many young adults who thought they were very passionate about a subject only to realize they hated it.

Yes. We specialise (too)? early?

I think a grade point average system in school, like the USA, would be much better. Knowing where you are going to college in the USA, effectively, and not having to take high stakes, terminal exams where things can potentially go wrong.

There is no UK education system.

The Scottish system used to be far superior to the English however it has gone drastically downhill with Curriculum for Excellence.

@TwigTheWonderKid Crikey the Finnish system sounds wonderful. I do think making teaching a highly attractive job is a big part of the solution.

I agree with others on this thread that primary education is generally good - although a friend who is a primary teacher was telling me that schools are now moving increasingly towards bought-in schemes of work, so the primary curriculum is likely to become much more generic.

My sense is that secondary education is not working for anybody, despite the efforts of many talented, dedicated teachers. I know highly academic kids who are bored witless, kids with SEN who are unable to engage with the curriculum, and everything in-between.

You’re better off looking for best fit

Even here my dc benefit from different schools