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  For many families this time of the year is associated with all sorts of emotions as young people prepare for the all-important summer exams. The truth of the matter is that sometimes the parent is more anxious than the child who will be sitting the exam. Most young people themselves are aware of the…

In my last article I started to examine the charge being made by those who are opposed to the new grading system for GCSE, in terms of its potential impact and perceived value. In this concluding part of that article, I look at the definition of the word ‘elite’ and ask if we will end…

Persistent, low-level disruptive behaviour in England’s schools is affecting pupils’ learning and damaging their life chances, according to an Ofsted report released today. The report says that teachers are frustrated that those in leadership positions are not doing enough to ensure high standards of pupil behaviour. Some pupils could be losing up to an hour…

What a lovely autumn we’ve been having. I used to like the spring a lot, more even than the summer itself. For me, the great thing about the spring is the anticipation of summer – not that the summer always lives to our expectations… If one really considers it, the autumn has so many things…

There are some important reforms being made to both GCSEs and A levels in England at the moment. GCSE reforms From next year, GCSE students in England will take all their assessments at the end of their course. Moving to this linear-type structure means that re-sit opportunities will be limited and students who wish to…

This is an email I received last week from a former student at Excel in Key Subjects. I will refer to him as Peter. Dear Dr Cartmell, I apologise for this late email in the wake of the A-Level exam results as I have been busy travelling and had to trawl deep into my inbox…

It is that time of year already? Hundreds of thousands of pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have been receiving their GCSE results today. Overall, on average across all GCSE subjects this year’s results show a slight rise in A* to C grades, with 68.8% of entries scored A*-C, up 0.7 percentage points on…

We know as scientists that endorphins are released during exercise. New findings from biology and education research shows that regular exercise benefits the brain in numerous ways. Regular workouts in the gym or at home improve attention span, memory and learning. They can also reduce stress and the effects of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and…

So, it’s the “Big Day” again. Shouts of excitement and “high 5s” are juxtaposed with tears and worry. Facebook is going into overdrive. Futures are secured for some, while others face uncertainty. Overall, A-level grades have edged down this year, as pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland receive their results. Overall, there has been…