Back to school.

Those were the words uttered by my mother which would strike fear and dread in my heart. No doubt she was relieved but all I could think about was the curtailment of my freedom and the start of long days in the classroom and even longer evenings of endless homework.

Islington’s primary school children are obviously far brighter than I ever was, as they have achieved the best key stage two results in the borough’s history.

During my childhood, I remember the trip to the House of Fraser, where my sisters and I would be measured for our school uniforms. For some reason, our school colour was French Navy, which I always thought was an odd choice. I'd never heard of that colour before and have never heard it since. I remember walking to school in my new blazer and bowler perched on my head, when one of my neighbours, a sprightly gentleman in his seventies, winked at me and said "The best days of your lives!" I didn't think they were at the time and I've certainly had some better days since leaving school. But looking back, I learnt some important lessons such as a work ethic, discipline and how to chew gum for hours without the teacher noticing.

It's without doubt that education is one of the most important ways to get on in the world. I certainly wouldn't be in my job as editor of Angel magazine without my certificates and degree. Without being glib, it's a way out of poverty for many and a way for a better standard of living for many. If you want to find out more on the thorny subject of education, Until 17 September The Archant Good Schools Show is at London Olympia. It's going to be a showcase of how inspirational education can be and one of the guest speakers is Tony Little, headmaster of Eton College.

And if that doesn't float your boat, then Karen Hardy of Strictly Come Dancing will also be there, talking about her studio where she teaches children Latin dancing, hip hop and freestyle. So if you think your offspring might be the next Jennifer Lopez or Justin Timerblake, you might want to pay a visit. The education system is going through a real shake up and this is a great opportunity to find out from the experts exactly what's going on. You never know, you might learn something...