How much revision should you do a day?

I’m frequently asked how much revision you should you do a day. Parents and students alike are looking for concrete numbers when they ask this question. However, the answer very much depends on the student concerned. In this article I’m going to give you: The ideal numbers for how many hours you should revise a […]

Constructive Praise: How giving it to your teen will prevent nagging

We’ve all heard the phrase ‘constructive criticism’. And, you’ve probably received some from a well-meaning person. But, have you ever thought about ‘constructive praise’? The phrase ‘constructive praise’ first came out of my mouth when I was on a parents’ only coaching call for The Extraordinaries Club, my online hub that supports parents and students […]

Ten years to terrible teen mental health: what’s changed in education, society and teen life

Ten years ago this week I left the classroom for the last time to go on maternity leave. A lot has changed in the educational landscape, and the life of teens, in those ten years. As I’m a big advocate of looking back, reflecting and seeing what we can learn from experience I thought it […]

Your 4 Futures: Do this simple exercise NOW and set yourself up for exam success this summer

It’s January 2020 (at the time of writing) and there are six months until you finish your GCSE or A-Level exams. Exams are a bit like a marathon, you have to keep going at a steady pace for two years, but in the final miles, you want to pick up the pace to finish strong. […]

7 things I’d tell my younger self

It’s the season of new year’s resolutions and you may well be busy trying to pursue self-improvement goals. However, most people set themselves goals that are: a) almost impossible to fulfill (e.g. ‘get fit’. What does that even mean? How will you know when you’ve achieved it?) b) not actually terribly worth achieving anyway because […]

How to revise GCSE Science – a step by step guide

Not sure how to revise GCSE science? If so, you’re not alone. To many students, the amount of content in physics, chemistry and, particularly biology, can seem very overwhelming, and that’s before you get to answering those pesky exam questions. In this blog post I’m going to give you some top-drawer advice about how to […]

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?

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If you want to help your child reach their academic potential you might be wondering which support is better for them: tutor vs academic coach? 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 […]

A step change in mental health – and achievement

Can your child improve their mental health at the same time as improving their grades? Yes! Today, I’m going to share two stories of student members of The Extraordinaries Club who have done just this. Improved mental health and going up two grades First, I’m going to tell you about a year 11 student. When […]