What should your child be studying during Covid-19 School Closures?

Have the Covid-19 school closures left you uncertain about what students should be focusing on in their home learning? In this article, I’m going to give a run-down of the things that students can most usefully be doing with their time to make sure they achieve their academic potential, whether that’s being judged by exams […]

Coronavirus and your GCSEs and A Levels

The Coronavirus outbreak in the UK is getting more serious by the day. At the same time, anxieties are growing about how measures put in place to slow the spread of the virus might impact the exams your son or daughter has been working towards for months on end. This blog post is designed to […]

3 Books Every Parent of Teenagers Should Read

To celebrate World Book Day this week I thought I’d share three books with you that I think every parent of teenagers should read so that they can better understand and support their children through the teen and exam years. 3 Books I’d Recommend to Every Parent of Teenagers 1. Mindset by Carol Dweck I’ve […]

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 […]

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 […]

What is an academic coach?

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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 […]

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 […]

Blasé to brilliant: Nichola and her son’s year 11 story 

Is it possible to go from grades like 2s and 3s in year 10 mocks to passing all your GCSEs and getting into your chosen sixth form? Yes it is! In this post, I’m going to share with you Nichola’s story of how she and The Extraordinaries Club helped her son to succeed in his […]

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 […]