Posted On: 27th Jun 2013
Solomon speaking on his piece
Solomon speaking with students at the Hastings Academy
Theresa Phillips from the Hastings Academy
Being clever at school often gets you far in the classroom, but does it equip you with skills for the rest of your life?
Fixer Solomon Curtis thinks not, and he thinks schools could be doing more to prepare students for life outside learning.
Watch his story, which was shown on ITV News Meridian (E) on Thursday 4th July, above.
Solomon, from Hastings, is concerned that too much focus is placed on achieving good grades at school, and this sidelines teaching real-world skills about finances, relationships, and politics.
In his piece, the 16-year-old visits the local Hastings Academy school to talk to students there about how they feel their education prepares them for life after school.
Solomon, who is the UK Youth Parliament Member for Hastings, Bexhill and Upper Rother, hopes to make a film with Fixers to encourage a 'curriculum for life.'
'It's really important that schools realise being a high academic achiever is not everything,' he says.
'My project will have succeeded if young people start seeing the connection between what they’re learning in school and their everyday lives in the future.'
Also featured in the piece is Theresa Phillips, Principal of the Hastings Academy: 'What Solomon’s doing to encourage all schools in Sussex to make their curriculum more relevant is fantastic.'