I was at university with a student who had been educated at Summerhill. She had 4 A grades at A level like every one else but the difference was that she had investigated for herself what it would take to get to where she wanted to be (a conference interpreter), and set her own goals and study plan. Her family background was, however, extremely dodgy (though there was money or she couldn't, presumably, have gone there) and she was glad to be detached from it. She was also the most balanced student I came across, the life and soul of all the parties and with by far the most mature outlook of any of us.