Here’s a different way to measure success in an English school

By the Editorial Team · Friday, September 18, 2026

England's Netherhall School has eliminated suspensions and lowered student mental health diagnoses by adopting an inclusive, relationship-focused approach that maintains strong academic results. This challenges traditional accountability systems that prioritize exam outcomes but may neglect student wellbeing, sparking debate over how best to assess educational success.

England’s education system has seen notable improvements in recent years, but some experts caution that official data may not fully capture the experiences of all pupils, particularly those who struggle academically. While England’s performance in the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) showed progress in mathematics, independent analyses suggest these results could be inflated due to an underrepresentation of lower-achieving students.

The gap between reported achievement and student wellbeing has become a growing concern amid rising disciplinary actions and absenteeism. Last year, state schools in England recorded 913,000 suspensions, more than twice the 438,500 suspensions in 2018-19. Similarly, persistent absence rates have nearly doubled to 19 percent compared to pre-pandemic levels. Critics argue that these trends are linked to a strict accountability system introduced under former Education Minister Michael Gove during the Conservative government led by David Cameron. This framework prioritizes exam results, potentially at the expense of students’ broader educational and personal development.

In this context, some schools are experimenting with alternative approaches focused on inclusivity and addressing the needs of their communities. The Netherhall School in Cambridge represents one such example. Serving a population with above-average deprivation and significant student mobility, the school has shifted its focus over the past six years toward creating a culture prioritizing relationships and inclusion.

The school reports a dramatic drop in suspensions, from roughly 300 annually to zero since June 2024. It also cites a diagnosis rate for student mental health needs of 3 percent—significantly lower than the national average of 20 percent—and a broader curriculum alongside increased extracurricular offerings. Despite this holistic approach, academic results have remained strong.

According to Chris Tooley, the school’s principal, this success stems not from adherence to traditional accountability measures or chasing performance metrics but from responding to the specific needs of the student body and community. The Netherhall School’s experience highlights ongoing debates about how best to measure and achieve success in education beyond standardized test scores.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.