What is success? Does the education system need changing?

Yesterday, I had the privilege of being interviewed by Jamie Oliver’s team neaxt to parliment about my experiences with dyslexia—both as someone who struggled through school undiagnosed, as a parent of dyslexic children, and as the founder of A-life, having visited thousands of schools and taught millions of children face to face. I see firsthand how the education system impacts children, and I have some thoughts to share.

Dyslexia & The Education System: What Needs to Change?
Running hands-on, interactive workshops, I often see the typically less academic children come alive. Teachers frequently tell me they’ve never seen certain students so engaged before. This highlights something crucial: the traditional classroom setting does not work for every child.

Jamie Oliver pointed out that approximately 25% of children are neurodivergent, but based on what I observe—considering the number of undiagnosed cases—I believe it could be as high as 50%.

The curriculum keeps expanding, with more being added but nothing taken away. Teachers are stretched beyond their limits, often without Teaching Assistants due to budget cuts. It’s simply not sustainable. One of the reasons i started A-life 20 years ago was to help children learn life skills in a way they would remember and engage with and make a lasting impact.

What Needs to Change?
We need a complete curriculum overhaul. Strip it back. Take the pressure off teachers. Introduce more:
-Outdoor learning
-Learning through play
-Life skills – cooking, running a business, financial literacy
-Social skills & emotional intelligence
-Practical skills – video editing, creative problem-solving

Instead, we’re still teaching skills that AI can now do in seconds while neglecting the essential life skills children actually need to thrive in modern society.

As Someone Who Was Undiagnosed Dyslexic in School
I was just assumed to be “thick.” No matter how hard I worked, I struggled to comprehend what was being asked, my reading felt like a foreign language, and my writing was a mess.

But through this struggle, I developed key skills: resilience, creativity, problem-solving, and thinking outside the box—all of which have served me well as a successful entrepreneur. Still, the impact on my confidence and self-esteem was huge, and no child should have to go through that.

As a Parent of Dyslexic Children
Understanding that children learn in different ways, I chose a small, nurturing school for my children in Reading with just 20 students from Nursery to Y6. The focus isn’t on rigid academics but on character, kindness, and diverse learning methods. I wanted a school that encourages children to thrive in their own way rather than forcing them into a one-size-fits-all model. Which may shut soon due to VAT & business rates.

What Is Success?
Is success about getting A*s and collecting degrees? Or is it about becoming someone like Richard Branson, Tom Cruise, or Jamie Oliver, all of whom struggled in school but went on to achieve extraordinary things?
It’s time we redefined success.

What do you think? Should schools focus less on traditional academics and more on life skills? Share your thoughts below!
@simonsquibb @jamieoliver @richardbranson