"Interest can produce learning on a scale compared to fear as a nuclear explosion to a firecracker." Stanley Kubrick

It’s all about GCSE results this week. Edge recently surveyed 1,000 15 to 16 year olds studying GCSEs in England. Make of the results what you will:

• More than half of GCSE students (56 per cent) are uninspired by at least three of the subjects studied and 41 per cent are uninspired by at least four subjects (half of the average eight subjects taken).

• Disinterest in a subject impacts directly on study performance – 46 per cent admitted they revise less for subjects that don’t motivate them, 40 per cent switch off in class and 30 per cent feel stressed studying for these exams.

• Two thirds of the students polled (66 per cent) said their talents would have been better developed with a wider range of ‘hands on’ learning through practical and vocational courses.
• A majority (57 per cent) believe everyone should study at least one practical and vocational subject (e.g. engineering or hospitality) as well as academic subjects like English and maths.

• If a wider choice of subjects were delivered, 87 per cent said they feel they would have been better prepared for a job and 89 per cent say they would have more chance of finding what they are good at. A wider choice of subjects would also mean 73 per cent would stop feeling they have only been taught to test.

• Three quarters (73 per cent) would like to be taught by external experts alongside their teachers.