What to do when you don’t like your teacher

It’s really tough if you have a teacher that you don’t like. It can really impact the way you see the subject, how you feel about going to their lessons and, ultimately, how well you do in that subject. In this blog post, I’m going to share some advice about what to do when you […]

10 Ways to Put the Sparkle Back into Your Studies

If you’re feeling a bit bored and jaded by your studies there are lots of different ways that you can put the spark back into them so that you approach them with energy, inspiration and enthusiasm. Keep reading for my ten ideas that are sure to put the sparkle back into your studies. 10 Ways […]

Tutor vs academic coach: which does your child need?

Everyone knows what a private tutor is. And for many parents, a tutor is the go to option when things aren’t going as they should at school. But, is a tutor really the right option to help your child? In this post, I’m going to lay out the differences between a private tutor and an academic […]

What is an academic coach?

Do you know what an academic coach is and how one could help your child? With 25% of GCSE students using private tutors, the way that an academic coach can help with GCSE and A-Level studies is over-looked by many (most people who like my Facebook page hadn’t heard of academic coaches until they came […]

4 ways to do the modules inside The Extraordinaries Club

You’re thinking about signing up to The Extraordinaries Club but you’re worried about how you’re going to fit doing the modules into your busy family life. Or, you’ve already signed up full, of good intentions. You plan to do the modules every week, but before you know it, life has got in the way, and […]

CASE STUDY: How one mum stopped nagging (and her son got fantastic GCSE results)

How do you make sure an “Able but idle” year 11 gets fantastic GCSE results, without you nagging them all year? That’s what Sarah was wondering when she signed up for The Exam Success Formula, my signature study skills course which is now housed inside The Extraordinaries Club. She described her son, who was a […]

These are my values. Are they the same as yours?

I have a set of guiding values, principles and beliefs that guide the way that I parent my own children as well as how I work with students and their families to help them to achieve their full potential. Today, I want to share these values with you. And, I’d love to know if you […]

[69] Why bright students fail – and what parents can do to prevent it

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If you have a bright and very academically able child, you might be thinking that school and exams are going to be plain-sailing. After all, they’ve got a natural talent for this stuff, so what could possibly go wrong? Well, in the time that I’ve worked as an academic coach it’s actually been some of […]

[68] What you say matters

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How aware are you of the effect of what you say and think? Have you noticed that what you say and how you say it can have a big impact on others? In last week’s blog, I talked about mental health and exams, and I talked briefly about things that I wish parents wouldn’t say […]

[67] Exams and mental health: how to succeed and stay happy

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Are you worried about your child’s mental health? Do you think that studying for exams is damaging their mental health? In this article I’m going to share with you: Why exams can be damaging to mental health – if you let them Why we need to reframe how we think about exams Simple strategies you […]