The modern world is incredibly demanding – cognitively, socially, emotionally and morally. Good grades (for some) and general knowledge (for all) are useful but they do not equip all young people to meet the challenges of life. Teaching aimed squarely at short-term improvements in test scores may actually weaken the very dispositions that underpin a fulfilling life: curiosity, determination, ingenuity and independence of mind. 21st century pedagogy has to methodically build students’ ability and appetite for designing, managing, troubleshooting and evaluating learning for themselves. And when this is achieved, test scores improve too.