100.000

100.000 fatefully bad school reports from around the world and what we can learn from them

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You were a bad student? Did you struggle in school?
​Perhaps you even dropped out?
Since 2010 we ask our members to send us a copy of their school report if that was the case.
Together with their story and their thoughts, ideally at least ten years later. 
We want to understand the circumstances and are grateful for a retrospective analysis!

What do you think now, looking back with more insight and experience?
What went wrong and why? And what did you most wish for at the time?
What held you back, what helped you, and what gave you back your curiosity and motivation?
Assuming your own child was in the same situation now, what would you do to help?

Find an example of retrospective understanding here!
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We're building the world's largest collection
​of bad school reports.      ​

Add yours and become part of the project!    ​

🥂🍾

On Thursday, July 31, 2025, we received the 100.000th report. Thank you all so much! 

This collection is a key element of the Bad Students Society's work, because failure in school is
much more than a question of knowledge not acquired, skills not learned and careers not built.
What does the experience of failure do with a youngster's soul, with his mental and physical
health, with his unused talents and his life possibly lived unfulfilled?
We see the scars it leaves on self-worth and self-esteem, they often hurt for decades.

The "100.00 archive" offers the experience of many to prevent the regrets of tomorrow.
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Circumstance, timing, opportunities
and the people around you 
matter so much when you're a kid.
They can tip the balance in your favour, give you perspectives and goals, become eye-openers.

Nine out of ten "failures" are talented, innovative young people with their heads
full of ideas. 
That's a fact and we can prove it. 
We have worked with them for years.

And yet, they need ways to connect
with their own strengths.

So, what we will do with your report & story
​and the other 99.999+?
​
We use the data and the experiences to learn from. We analyse, compare and digest our findings.
We aim to help kids and parents, schools and society to rethink success and failure in education.

The Bad Students Society

In better famillages.  X
With better synergy parenting.
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Contribute your own school report, story,
experience, opinion or best practice case!

​In case you prefer another language: Your contribution 
doesn't have to be in English. All languages are welcome.
​Please feel free to write as much as you want!
​We will read it.
And, just in case you wonder:
Of course, it's okay to blur your name on the report.
​But we will treat it with utmost discretion anyway.

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Please contribute a copy of your (bad)
school report and its genesis to become
part of the world's largest collection of
school reports ​and leaving certificates. 

Here's why you should:

It will give us meaningful and insightful information so that we, in collaboration
with an international group of scientists, including some of our own members,
can inspire open thinking in education:
​
We want to encourage parents to freely
consider alternatives beyond familiar paths,
bring frustrated underachievers out of the
loser's corner to find new motivation and
invite society to redefine academic success.

Reports from family, parents and of course
grandparents are very welcome as well!
Please do take the time to provide
details to help us put it in context.

We appreciate all background on what
became of the report's owner.

Did you succeed because of 
or despite your grades?
Did you achieve your goals?

Comments and suggestions
are welcome and appreciated.
​
Thank you for your help!
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