I guess that schools haven't changed too much since I went during and just after the war.

With just two or three exceptions, teachers were a worthless lot. I have to disagree about exams though. Mainly because I used to enjoy them. It was the only challenge one got for the whole term. And I loved math as well, but it was rarely taught properly. I hated sports, but they weren't taught properly either.

Pure math is a game. It is not real. It is fun. But were you ever taught that in school? NO, I guarantee you weren't.

And exam results should also, or mainly, be used to assess the teachers.
Every failure is one on their part.