SIDCOT School has taken on a very different approach to exams.

The progressive secondary school feels that children should be educated in a wide range of subjects equally rather than effort being concentrated on just one topic at a time.

Iain Kilpatrick, Headmaster at Sidcot School said: “When the Institute of Directors (IoD) starts to accuse schools of becoming exam factories churning out children who are experts in rote learning and memory challenges, it’s clearly time for change.

"Today’s education system was designed and conceived in a different age and is failing to prepare children for the workplace with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.

"Annual league tables compound this problem but for many families exam results are the main driver when choosing a school.

"At Sidcot we use the latest approaches which attract families who are relieved to discover that there is an alternative to the hothouse environment.

" Families who are very aware of the pressures on young people and the long term impact on their self-esteem and mental health”.

"“Without testing and measuring we have happy well-rounded students and our excellent academic record shows our approach works.

"We have engaged learners who go on to achieve long-term success. That’s all any of us really want for our children”.

The independant school will be opening its doors on January 27 and will aim to explain to parents how being an independent school gives them what they believe to be a more rounded approach to education.