When High Grades Don’t Tell the Whole Story

Last year at Stewards.ONE, we decided to go beyond the usual “How well did you do in Maths?” approach and ask a bigger, bolder question:

Are our students actually developing real-world capabilities they can carry through life, or are they just getting better at passing exams like well-trained calculators?

So, we rolled out our iSTECAMMO™ Capability Maturity Assessment (View iSTECAMMO Framework), measuring students across Academic, Character, and Business & Career domains.

We assessed a total of 30 key capabilities — from Problem-Solving and Analytical Thinking to Adaptability, Courage, Financial Awareness, Emotional Intelligence, and Research Skills.
Each capability had 10 proof points (traits), meaning we assessed an incredible 300 traits in total for every student.

A huge thank you to all the parents who sat through — and actively engaged in — sometimes 150 minutes of questions and conversation. We know that’s a serious investment of time, but we believe it was worth every minute. The insights gained have been invaluable in shaping individual growth plans.

The results? Fascinating, uplifting, and at times… a little sobering.

🎯 The Surprising Patterns We Found

One big finding stood out:

High academic achievement didn’t always mean high capability maturity.

The strongest predictor of well-rounded growth? Parents who were intentionally directing their child to develop these capabilities — giving them guidance, creating situations, and encouraging engagement that brings out traits like adaptability, courage, research skills, and emotional intelligence in everyday life.

📊 Grade-Focused but Unbalanced

This student excelled academically but scored unevenly in real-life capabilities.
Brilliant at exams — but missing the rounded skillset needed to thrive outside them.

📊 Well-Rounded Capability

This student’s chart is more balanced — not perfect, but showing growth in problem-solving, creativity, resilience, and empathy alongside academic strength.

💡 What This Means for Parents & Educators

We know that parents are already juggling so much — and not everyone has hours to set up “extra learning experiences” at home. That’s exactly why we’ve built a structure that works in partnership with families.

The first step is understanding your child’s starting point:
Take the Teacher-Led AWAKEN Assessment.

🛠 How We Build Capabilities (All Online — Yes, It Works!)

We don’t just talk about skills — we simulate them:

• Scenario Plays – Real-world dilemmas students must navigate in groups.
• Role Plays – Practice responding to challenges in a safe environment.
• Mini Projects – Problem-solving tasks that demand planning, collaboration, and creativity.
• Parental Collaboration – Weekly prompts for parents to reinforce at home.

And yes — all of this is delivered online.
But if you’ve ever seen a group of teens debate an ethical dilemma or prototype a business idea over Zoom, you’ll know: with the right structure (and some parental backup), you can achieve a LOT.

🚀 September 2025 – The Next Step

Starting this September, students can join our 30-week Capability Development Programme:

• One capability per week
• Three sessions per week
• Continuous feedback
• Tailored development plans

The world needs more than high grades. It needs young people who can adapt, think critically, and lead with purpose.

📍 Take the AWAKEN Assessment today — and let’s start building capabilities that will stick for life.