Education column with Sam Vickers, Batley Multi Academy Trust CEO: ‘Young people are our future’

We are officially in the height of the exam season. To many people, this time of year is defined by the scratching of pens, the ticking of hall clocks, and the inevitable nerves.

However, as an educator, when I look at these exam rooms, I do not just see rows of young people testing their memory. I see the culmination of many years of monumental effort, care, guidance, support and unwavering dedication.

Every single exam paper turned over this month represents a long journey that began more than a decade ago on a child’s very first day of primary school.

An investment in a child’s education is the single most powerful tool we have for improving their life chances. Education is the ultimate equaliser; it unlocks doors that social background or circumstance might otherwise keep firmly shut. It broadens horizons, fosters critical thinking, develops leadership skills and provides young people with the autonomy to choose their own futures rather than having their futures dictated to them.

However, ensuring our children get the best possible start in life is not a task that can be carried out in isolation. There is an old African proverb that has never felt truer than it does right now: “It takes an entire village to raise a child.”

The achievements of the young people sitting in those exam halls do not belong to them alone. Their success is a shared victory built by a vast, interconnected community. First and foremost, it belongs to the children themselves, who have shown resilience, determination, and hours of hard work to reach this milestone.

Then, it belongs to our incredible teachers, who inspire, enthuse and ignite passion, and our vital associate staff - from caretakers and administrators to teaching assistants and catering teams - who create a safe, nurturing, caring and compassionate environment every day.

Crucially, it also belongs to the parents, carers and families. They are the ones who have kept children grounded, wiped away the tears of frustration, ensured they slept, kept them well fed and nourished and cheered them on from the sidelines for 11 straight years, or 13 years for young people sitting their A-levels or equivalent qualifications.

Without this collective village, the school gates would mean very little. Schools are stronger when they work cohesively with families, all working together to benefit the young person.

It is easy to place a heavy burden on education. We often talk about it as a grand, abstract concept designed to fix all of society's ills. But the Brazilian philosopher Paulo Freire captured the true essence of our mission perfectly when he wrote: “Education does not change the world. Education changes people. People change the world.”

That is what this exam season is truly about. We are not just preparing children to pass a test; we are shaping the people who will go on to build our future. The knowledge they have gained, the values they have developed, and the resilience they have forged over the last 11 years are the tools they will use to impact our community and the wider world.

To all our young people embarking on their exams over the coming weeks: remember that these papers are simply a showcase of your journey. You are prepared, you are supported, and your entire ‘village’ is standing right behind you. You’ve got this!

Whatever the results in August, education has already changed you - and we cannot wait to see how you change the world.