I have no specific recollection of my deferred success at school (and in life) as being the result of the word 'failure', but it fits in nicely with the arrogance and dictatorial bullying I do remember as being a standard day of being taught by a teacher in a classroom in the '50's & 60's. It is also in keeping with the public humiliation which was one of their favourite tools of punishment.

Any change from the schooling I had is an improvement. 'Failure' is an unnecesarily ugly, dismissive and permanent word.
('Deferred success' is a stupid phrase, but if the choice is between just those two, then it is preferable IMO.)