All Posts by Lucy Parsons

How to stay motivated to study

So many parents tell me that their teenagers struggle with how to stay motivated to study.  Motivation tactics like using biscuits as a reward can incentivise your teen to revise in the short term, but is it the best way to encourage your teen to achieve?  I talked to motivation expert Sharath Jeevan to get […]

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Revision not working? This might be why…

Very few GCSE and A-Level students are taught how to revise by their schools. And, judging by the responses to a recent question on our Facebook page, those who are given some information about how to revise are confused. They’re getting seemingly conflicting advice and it grinds them to a halt because without certainty about […]

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How to talk to your teen about revision

Your teen walks downstairs from their room and you ask, “How’s the revision going?”. 60 seconds later, they’re so wound up that they’ve turned around and stormed straight back to their room. The house is shuddering with the vibration of slammed doors and shouted retorts (both yours and theirs). Does that sound familiar? So many […]

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A-Level Geography: 5 things successful students do

Studying A-Level Geography is truly fascinating. However, it’s a very content-heavy subject with a lot of case study material to remember, which can overwhelm some students.   I interviewed David Rendle, a former Geography teacher with 25 years of experience and an A-Level examiner, to get some insight into how A-Level Geography students can set […]

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Frankenstein Exams: Why you shouldn’t fall apart because of a botched exam paper

Has your child fallen victim to a Frankenstein exam? If so, they might need help putting themselves, and their exams mindset, back together. In this article you’ll find out: What a Frankenstein exam is What’s the problem with Frankenstein exams? Why students get disappointing grades in Frankenstein exams How to put your child’s study and […]

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Sustainable(ish) Studying: how to be an environmentally sustainable student

We all know that climate change is a really important issue and there’s so much information out there about how we can live more sustainably. But how can you bring that eco-friendly lifestyle into your child’s school life and help them become a more environmentally sustainable student? I had a chat with Jen Gale, a […]

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Are your good intentions stopping your teen from living their best life?

I have to say I’m a bit nervous about writing this blog post. But, prompted by some recent very vulnerable (and brave) admissions by parent members of The Extraordinaries Club and interactions with parents of the students we work with over a number of years I feel moved to ask this: Are your good intentions […]

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Do mocks really matter?

Do mock exams really matter? Afterall, they’re mocks, not the real thing. In this blog we’re going to consider whether GCSE and A-Level mocks really matter and, ultimately, how seriously you should take them as a parent or a student. Do mocks really matter? What’s the point of mocks? Mocks are held for several reasons. 1. […]

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Introducing academic coach, Bill Morrison

Bill Morrison, the latest person to join our Academic Coaching team, understands, from his own experience, that academia and education do not always follow a straightforward path. This blog is a summary of my conversation with Bill, which you can listen to using the podcast player above or by searching for The School Success Formula […]

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A-Level Sociology: How to Revise and Succeed

A-Level Sociology is a relatively new subject but it’s becoming even more popular than traditional subjects like history and geography. So what exactly does being a successful A-Level Sociology student involve? How can you set yourself up to bank some good grades that will enable you to reach your goals beyond A-Levels? I interviewed Zoe […]

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