With the summer holidays in full swing, the UK’s adult population has revealed why they were glad to say goodbye to full time education. Alongside the usual suspects, like homework and exams, the survey by Home Learning College highlighted dorky uniforms and moody teachers as negatively affecting people’s enjoyment of school.
The research investigated what adults miss least about their school years. Half were happy to see the back of homework and exams, while 40 per cent happily waved goodbye to bullies. The results revealed a clear gender divide with regard to the latter, as 43 per cent of women expressed relief at escaping classroom tormentors, compared to just 34 per cent of men.
Over a third of respondents mentioned wearing a dorky uniform as contributing to their school time misery, with men proving almost as fashion conscious as women. Moody teachers were similarly blamed for dampening school spirits.
Peer pressure was revealed as a key issue for over a third of women, while men proved less susceptible, with only a fifth mentioning this as a problem. Other elements of the school experience to feature on the list included school dinners, PE and detention.
Top 10 school hates:
1 Homework 52%
2 Exams 50%
3 Bullies 40%
4 Moody teachers 34%
5 Wearing a dorky uniform 34%
6 Peer pressure 29%
7 Assembly 28%
8 PE 24%
9 School dinners 23%
10 Detention 22%
On a more positive note, almost a quarter of respondents admitted that ‘back to school’ messages already appearing in shops make them sad their days of learning are over. A further 15 per cent reported that the thought of the coming academic year inspires them to study again.
“Our research shows that certain memories of school have left a bad taste in the mouth for many people,” says Dave Snow, Academic Director at Home Learning College. “However, the survey also highlighted that a significant proportion of adults experience positive emotions at the thought of going back to school.
“It’s important to bear in mind that studying as an adult is very different, with students in far greater control of their learning experience. This is particularly true of distance learning, which takes place at the time and location of the student’s choosing. No classrooms, no uniforms, no moody teachers and certainly no detentions!”