'When you love something, you learn and you grow'

A photographer and former teacher said there should be more flexibility in education to cater for pupils' differences.

Jayne Jackson said the current system is too inflexible with some children and that their attendance and exam performance can be prioritised over their wellbeing.

Ms Jackson, who was a guest editor on BBC Radio Solent said many children are being let down because of those issues.

The station heard from a Year 11 pupil, Holly, who is remote learning at home after an "epic battle" with her school to be allowed to do so.

Ms Jackson said: "Some of my best friends are teachers and work so, so hard but I think we do need to address how we measure success and how we create a system where every child can thrive.

"Rather than focussing on getting the kids in, I think we also need to consider what the issues and barriers might be for them coming in."

She added: "I see children do amazing things in theatres, circuses and these wonderful environments with so much motivation and that's intrinsic.

"It's not because they're forced to be there, it's because they love it. When you love something, you learn and you grow."

Holly, from Wimborne, said her school career initially started well but she began to feel nervous the night before attending and later had panic attacks.

"It felt like I couldn't go any more. The building was scary, I would just worry about so many things," she said.

Her mum Diana said she initially felt that Holly might have been "overreacting" but as time went by it was clear she was not.

Diana said Holly's school did not help as much as it might have to protect her interests.

"It was an epic battle and actually they were doing everything they could to try to get her back in school, Diana added.

"The focus was on her attendance, not on her learning. We were actually told: 'we can't provide you with work from home.'

"The focus was only: come in, sit in a quiet room."

Diana said Holly's needs might have been identified earlier – but that the school system "isn't set up for that".

"Our teachers are there to be teachers, they're not there to be medical professionals," she added.

"The school system is simply set up for achieving and grades. It's not set up for our children to learn about themselves or about how they navigate life."

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