In England you get public exams at the end of yr11,12 and 13. I think a system of coursework and perhaps a few smaller tests throughout the year would be better than these huge tests at the end of the year. It seems stupid that you only get one chance to prove everything that you have learnt throughout the year and really it ends up just being a test of your memory, not your ability in that subject.

I guess I'm old fashioned (OK, it's not a guess, it's a fact), but it's tough to have school without tests. Despite some of the new approaches to teaching (things like working with partners or in groups, which only gives the lazy students a free ride by copying from the smarter kids), there is no substitute for tests. How else are you supposed to measure what kids, or anyone for that matter, have learned (or what you have tried to teach them)? Too much of this progressive touchy-feely baloney does no good at all. Sure, some kids do have talents that school does not bring out, but it sure as hell helps if a kid can write something coherent and articulate if he or she is trying to sell their talent (unless it's a talent in sports or music, perhaps). Even at that, there are tests involved, like How far can you hit a ball or Play this on the piano for me.