I've always been intrigued by the Finnish education system. It’s good that they don't start until 7 and there seems to be a lot of less standardised testing and possibly more choice or over subjects. All good things but, at the end of the day, it is still state education. I have yet to meet any Finnish people who have their kids in the current system who I can quiz to ascertain whether it is indeed the amazing system many think it is. Often, the idea people have of what other countries are doing is based on what we read in the media and can be vastly different to reality. That's not to say it's not better than what other countries are doing, I'm just being pragmatic.

Mainstream media will especially try to make a case for “amazing” education systems because they are all for control through state. They present ideological solutions or alternative systems which, in our busy lives, provides parents the hopium we need - that, if only we were to find a good school or a better system, things would be better for our children.

Many people, some now quite famous people who previously worked in the education sector, have tried to change state education (and private education, which is usually controlled and regulated by the state) for the better. A few went so far down the rabbit hole to realise it was utterly pointless and ended up advocating for parents to remove their children from formal schooling completely.

I’m one of those people. I’ve have been working in this field for 15+ years and I now advise people on why it’s good idea to remove their children from state education and how they can do that.