Improved Grades
GCSE & A-level
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Saturday Classes 2025-26
How the Saturday Classes work
A typical Saturday is like the regular school, where students do one subject after the other. They study from 10am to about 2.30pm – with a couple or so breaks in the day. Most students at GCSE and KS3 study Maths, English and the Science subjects (Physics, Chemistry and Biology), as these are the subjects on which we focus. The A-level students study between one to three subjects – with most doing two subjects but some do just one. A period of two hours is spent on each subject at A-level.
For students in the final year of GCSE or A-level, the academic year consists of 26 Saturdays in total – from October to May. The first two weeks is what we call D & A – Diagnostic and Alignment (Tests and Interviews) The D & A is followed by three terms, with each term consisting of eight Saturdays. For students who are not in the final year of GCSE or A-level - Years, 8, 9, 10 and 12, there is an extra term (fourth term ) in the summer – June and July.
Classes are held on Saturdays during term time. It is not every Saturday of the academic year but a selected list of 26 Saturdays, as there are breaks. Please see term dates on this page. From experience, we know that 26 Saturdays in a year is sufficient to add value to what students learn in school and to prepare them for examinations. This has worked very well in the last 21 years and students who study with us for at least one academic year have improved by two grade boundaries on average.
More details about GCSE & KS3 students
Each Saturday, GCSE or KS3 students spend 45 minutes on each subject – Maths, English, Physics, Chemistry or Biology. Students who are taking two subjects spend 1 hour 30 minutes and 2 hours 15 minutes for those who are taking three subjects. Most GCSE students take four subjects and spend just under four hours (including breaks) studying on a Saturday. Typically students take English, Maths and two Science subjects.
Triple Science students
Triple Science students do three lessons of Science every week – Physics, Chemistry and Biology. They usually do English and Maths as well, so they do five lessons in total.
Combined Science students (double Science)
Combined Science students do two lessons of Science every week. They usually do English and Maths as well, so they do a total of four lessons. We still cover all the three Science subjects with the combined science students but we do it by rotation. For example, we could start with Physics and Chemistry and rotate to say Biology and Chemistry after one half term. We ensure that all the topics in all the three Sciences of Physics, Chemistry and Biology are covered, as this is the national curriculum requirement.
All Science options cover Physics, Chemistry and Biology, irrespective of the Science Award – Combined Science (double) or Triple Science.
KS3 students
KS3 students usually do four lessons each Saturday – one for Maths, one for English and two for the Sciences. Just like combined Science students, we rotate between the science subjects so all the topics in Physics, Chemistry and Biology are covered. The rotation of covering just two science subjects each Saturday ensures that the day is not too long for the students.
A-level – first and second year – AS and A2
A-level students spend 2 hours per subject each Saturday and a student can do up to 3 subjects on a Saturday. Classes start at 10 am and some classes are scheduled for the afternoon and do not finish until about 4.30pm. There are a maximum of 4 students per class and tuition is focused on each individual student in accordance with their exam board. A programme is established for the student after the initial Diagnostic and Alignment sessions.
Homework Assignments
GCSE and KS3 students get between 30 to 45 minutes of homework per subject each week. A-level students are expected to do between 1.5 to 2 hours of question practice as homework each week.
The homework assignment is usually question-practice, based on the topics that have been covered on that day. Question practice helps to reinforce understanding and to master Examination Skills and Technique.
Intensive Revision Courses
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Saturday Classes
Dates for 2025-26 Academic year – St James, Olympia centre
DT - Diagnostic Test | DT - Feedback | Autumn Term 2025 | ||||||||
4-Oct | 11-Oct | 18-Oct | 25-Oct (no classes) |
1-Nov | 8-Nov | 15-Nov | 22-Nov | 29-Nov | 6-Dec | 13-Dec |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |||
Early Spring -2026 Term 2 | ||||||||||
10-Jan | 17-Jan | 24-Jan | 31-Jan | 7-Feb | 14-Feb | 21-Feb (no classes) |
28-Feb | 7-Mar | ||
Late Spring -2026 Term 3 | ||||||||||
21-Mar | 28-Mar | 4-April (no classes) |
11-Apr | 18-Apr | 25-Apr | 2-May | 9-May | 16-May | ||
Summer Term 2026 (for students that are not doing major GCSE or A-level exams - not for Y11 and Y13 (U6th ) | ||||||||||
30-May | 6-Jun | 13-Jun | 20-Jun | 27-Jun | 4-Jul | 11-Jul | 18-Jul |
Our GCSE courses and students
We offer all the core academic subjects of Maths, English and the Sciences at GCSE or IGCSE level; however, Maths is the most popular. Our GCSE Maths tuition and GCSE Maths revision classes provide the boost that young people need to improve their confidence and raise their Maths exam grade at GCSE level. Over the years, we have helped many students to achieve a significant improvement in their GCSE Maths exam grades.
Maths is an essential subject at all levels. Maths is also a key element and a core subject at GCSE. Those who wish to study Maths at A level may be unaware that there is an enormous leap between GCSE and AS Level Maths. However, that is exactly what Excel in Key Subjects is here for – to cushion that jump.
We are here to help. We know Maths is a tricky subject for many, and often that extra bit of tuition is just what a student needs to gain that much needed confidence and skill. Our students are upheld and guided by our teachers every step of the way, leaving no room for confusion or underperformance
Although most of our students are taking the Pearson Edexcel Maths, we cater to all GCSE Maths options and exam boards.
We employ only dedicated, highly professional, fully qualified teachers who are willing to infuse enthusiasm into the subject.
Class sizes are very small and therefore closely tailored to individuals’ needs.
We provide value for money – we generate results and our prices are competitive and affordable.
Intensive revision classes run during school holidays and half terms – knowledge is fully reinforced and exam techniques are thoroughly taught. We believe repetition is key.
Grade Guarantee – our promise to you for the Saturday School. Predicted grades are matched, or we will send you a refund. This is subject to terms and conditions, which includes studying for one full academic year at GCSE level and two full academic years at A-level. Please see our terms and conditions for details. As leading providers of revision classes and tuition in London, we would be delighted to answer your questions.
How Our Students Shape Up! – including Analysis of Maths
Most of the students who study Maths at our Saturday School are working at around a B grade (Grade 6) and would like to improve to an A or A* (Grade 8 or 9). However, there is a minority who are borderline D and E (Grade 4 and 5) grades who are striving to obtain the critical C grade. (Grade 5). Our courses are not suitable for young people who may not possess the ability to achieve above Grade C. The backgrounds of our students vary widely; ranging from students who attend Independent Schools (private) to students who attend Grammar and Comprehensive Schools (academies). What is common among these teenagers is that they are from families where education is highly valued, and these young people appreciate the need to get the most out of the time they spend at the Saturday School, and also the investment their parents are making.
We have been operating since 2004 and over that period we have achieved success with three groups of students:
1. Coasters!
We have learnt that Low Expectations - mainly from the subject teacher at school, is the main reason for underachievement in teenagers. There are students who are bright but are not performing at their full potential, as they are often not challenged enough in school. There is sometimes a lack of motivation on the part of the student or inadequate teaching at school. Typically, they are in the higher sets in school but these students are working at a B grade with the possibility of slipping to a C or lower. We have worked with many such students to achieve A and A* grades using traditional but inspirational teaching methods delivered by teachers who love their subjects. This is the group in which most of our students fall.
2. Middle of The Road
In school, this set of students are either in Set 2 or 3, and struggling to stay there, and there is a distinct possibility of being moved to a lower set, where the maximum grade they can achieve is a C (Grade 5). Some of them are actually in the lower set, working at D/C borderline. There is also a possibility of being moved to the higher set in school, thereby giving them the opportunity to achieve a grade that is better than a C. This is where we come in.
We have assisted those who are in this category to consolidate their position in that set, and in most cases move up a set or two. After helping those who are in the lower set to improve their performance, we sometimes become involved in liaising with the student’s school to recommend raising their tier of entry for GCSE.
3. Students who do Not Find Maths Second Nature/Non-Mathematicians or Low academic achievers
Not everyone has mathematical talent. Some students try their best but lack the instinct to tackle mathematical problems. There is a very tiny minority of students for whom bad performance is due to their school/teacher or home experience. These students are in the lower set and the best grade they are likely to achieve at GCSE is a C grade and there is no certainty that they’ll achieve even that.
By simplifying and removing the fear of Maths, we have helped this set of students to make the C grade a reality. We do not have many students in this category.
Please note that although we have used GCSE Maths for this analysis; we provide all the Core Academic Subjects at GCSE and A-level. We cover Maths, English, Physics, Chemistry and Biology (including Triple and Combined Science) at GCSE and A-level. In addition, we also cover History, Economics and Psychology at A-level.
GCSE & KS3 –fees per term – Saturday Classes – 2025-26 | |||||
5 subjects | 4 subjects | 3 subjects | 2 subjects | 1 subject | |
[English, Maths & Triple Science] Six 45-minute lessons – including a supervised assignment session | Maths, English & Combined Science or any 2 Science subjects for Triple Science students Five 45-minute lessons – including a supervised assignment session | Maths & Combined Science – OR English & Combined Science OR Triple Science. Four 45-minute lessons – including a supervised assignment session | [Maths & English OR Combined Science or any 2 Science subjects for Triple Science students. Three 5-minute lessons – including a supervised assignment session | [Maths OR English] Two 45-minute lessons – including a supervised assignment session | |
Term 1 (includes D & A:) | £1,740 | £1,550 | £1,340 | £1,140 | £840 |
Term 2 | £1,395 | £1,205 | £995 | £795 | £495 |
Term 3 | £1,395 | £1,205 | £995 | £795 | £495 |
Additional Term for KS4; Y10 and Y12 | |||||
5 subjects | 4 subjects | 3 subjects | 2 subjects | 1 subject | |
Term 4 | £1,395 | £1,205 | £995 | £795 | £495 |
A-level fees – fees per term – Saturday Classes – 2025-26 | ||||
1 subject | 2 subjects | 3 subjects | 4 subjects | |
Two Hours of study | Four Hours of study | Six Hours of study | Eight Hours of study | |
Term 1 (includes D&A of £345) | £1,130 | £1,870 | £2,620 | £3,330 |
Term 2 | £785 | £1,525 | £2,275 | £2,985 |
Term 3 | £785 | £1,525 | £2,275 | £2,985 |
Additional Term for Y12 | ||||
1 subject | 2 subjects | 3 subjects | 4 subjects | |
Term 4 | £785 | £1,525 | £2,275 | £2,985 |