Besides knowledge, what do you think they should be teaching children in schools?

[ShreeVishu]

Is the modern education system fit for purpose? Is it equipping children with the skills to be happy and successful in life? What additional skills do you think we should be teaching children in school?

More importantly, how would all these ‘additional skills’ fit into the timetable ?
Everything mentioned is already covered in the PSHE curriculum- see PSHE Association guidance.

I think it’s the parents responsibility to teach those skills.

Aren't these things the responsibility of parents?
Why do schools have to take on these matters - OK some (most) will have workshops on mental health), but the other stuff isn't part of what schools need to be doing. They don't have enough time/staff/ facilities to be teaching the actual curriculum.

Some parents seem very happy to offload everything to do with their kids.

respect and a good work ethic. Schools need to be given back the ability to discipline kids for bad behaviour. The amount of actual integration or detailed biology becomes irrelevant if there’s no classroom control.

I think the early years curriculum, which covers more of that type of thing, should be extended by at least another year, possibly two. Lots of children never get another opportunity to revisit those skills if they aren't secure by the end of reception.

But by secondary level I think adjustments need to be more around bringing in functional skills and vocation subjects earlier for less academic children.

As schools are where children socialise, I think there should be a significant amount of time spent on how to treat each other, how not to annoy each other, on dealing with conflict and on sticking up for yourself and others.

I’d say rather than being specifically taught, children acquire additional skills and qualities through being at school.

Timekeeping
Organisation
Self motivation / effort
Resilience
Teamwork / cooperation / collaboration
Willingness to compete.
Self assurance.
Assertiveness.
A sense of adventure.
Ability to assess levels of risk.
Leadership
Enterprise
Play
Overcoming boredom
Understanding of inequality

But why are you asking, @ShreeVishu? Have I just written your essay outline or given structure to an article for which you will be paid and I won’t?

I don't think schools should be expected to do all of this as specific learning. Things like emotional intelligence and communication skills should/could be intrinsic and I agree that mental health should be something that's talked about.
PHSE already covers much of this.
Also not a given that schools/teachers would actually teach these in the ways you as a parent might agree with! Be careful what you wish for.

I think we should teach more about the basics of politics and personal finances, but most of what you mentioned should be down to parents. It is not the sole responsibility of schools to provide children with everything they need to be happy and successful.

Ideally much more information and practical lessons on healthy relationships, self regulation, signs of abuse, emotional intelligence and mental health, building confidence. More indepth sexual education and addiction lessons.

Yes ideally parents would teach this but lots don't. I'd see it as a investment for the future that the government would want to fund. This would massively help making a more healthier society. Boys particularly need more help identifying emotions and healthier coping mechanisms.

Drama, music, things like art, pottery, woodwork, textiles, food tech, touch typing, the modern version of technical drawing. We had a subject called community studies, it was excellent, going out into the community & doing things like going into primary schools & nurseries, getting areas cleaned up, I did the gennel between the main road & where I lived, writing to the council & getting litter bins installed & the council came out & removed all graffiti, cleared overgrowth, put signs up about cleaning up after dogs, a handrail on the steps at one end. The council invited me to visit the depot where all the rubbish was processed, took me to see the signs being made, helped me choose the litter bins that were going to be sited, I also got to visit the council & discuss the ongoing maintenance of the path, getting it resurfaced & kept clean & tidy. I got the highest mark for my project & got an O'level for the subject. Things like managing money, bank accounts, how to find a home, practical things like safety in the home, budgeting, simple DIY, writing a CV & applying for jobs.

How to recognise and avoid toxic people eg narcissists.

This ☝

Teachers are for education, parents are for everything else.

Drama, music, things like art, pottery, woodwork, textiles, food tech, touch typing, the modern version of technical drawing

All available at pretty much any decent independent school, I’m afraid. But surely some state schools offer some of these things?

A lot of the suggestions above are covered in secondary PSHE lessons.
DT subjects are being wrapped up due to a lack of skilled socialist teachers.
There isn't enough taught about sex, pregnancy, birth and early years parenting- some of which can be covered in biology but we need to lose some of the content to fit that into an already bulging specification.

Confidence
Being proud of who you are and what you like
Respect for others
Respect for rules
That life is more than exam grades

@DisneyHag yes all state schools teach those subjects (except probably touch typing).
Most of that list is included in the National Curriculum until age 14 when you can select options.
(in England anyway)

Being proud of who you are and what you like Respect for others Respect for rules

I’d prefer an element of Critical Thinking …

So why does @Nat6999 think those subjects are not taught, @Needmorelego? (You may not be able to answer that, obviously.)

Financial literacy - budgeting, taxes, insurance, mortgages, savings etc. I know some children will have these discussions at home but many wont

@DisneyHag I have no idea why people think schools don't teach certain subjects.
On threads like these there is always "schools should teach....." and someone will follow up with "they do".
I can't give an answer for that.
As for "respect for others" - that means you don't have to like all the other children in your class and all be friends but you should be polite and work together if needed.
"Respect for rules" means if the teacher says "the rule is when the whistle goes for end of play everyone lines up quietly" - then you should do it.
I'm not sure what that has to do with critical thinking.

The school I went to had a massive arts & crafts area with areas for art, pottery, woodwork, metalwork, cooking & sewing, ds school only had an area for food tech & product design, art was drawing only, no painting or collage work, textiles was only for Y10 & upwards, there was no chance to do anything like pottery, touch typing or technical drawing, office skills etc.

I feel in some cases parents are also unaware or unable to teach them.

@DisneyHag Thank you for your detailed response! I appreciate the insights you've shared. I was genuinely curious about what additional skills and qualities we should be teaching children in school, as it's a question that's been bugging me. No hidden agendas here—just seeking to understand and discuss this important topic. If there's an easy way to teach kids these skills at home, I am all ears. Especially teenagers.

Life IS more than exam grades; this is very important!

I agree that what teachers teach might not always align with parents' expectations. As parents, we have a responsibility to teach our kids important life skills and values. Discussing mental health, especially with teenagers, can be challenging. I would love to hear how you approach this sensitive topic with your children.