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A young man once confessed to me that when he used to have a private tutor coming into his house, he was never prepared and it never worked for him. He also admitted that now that he has to travel across London to a private tuition centre, he is more switched on and focused. On the other hand, some private tuition centres are a waste of time as they are manned by people who know very little about the school […]

If you are parent who is concerned about the progress your child is making in school, particularly in the core subjects which matter most, you may be asking yourself whether or not your child needs a private tutor. You need not spend sleepless nights worrying anymore. Here are the key questions you need to ask yourself before deciding to search for a private tutor: Are the subjects for which you are seeking a private tutor very important to the future […]

Now that young people are settling into the new academic year, young people studying GCSE and A-level are familiarising themselves with a new teacher, new peers and perhaps new subjects. They are embarking on another step of an exciting  learning curve of life. One thing that we are all guilty of is sliding into old bad habits – particularly those that will take us further away from where we want to be. Whenever we find ourselves in a new environment, […]

Key Stage 3 is an underestimated crucial period in children’s lives. It is a time of transition which requires a sensitive approach and committed monitoring by parents. It has been an area of study for some years now, with researchers seeking to explain the reasons behind slumped performance and general attitudes of indifference amongst 11 to 14 year olds. It has transpired that there may be a variety of reasons and causes behind this; however the good news is that […]

Parental participation in a world of education and schooling which is becoming ever-complex can be a great source of strength for children. Not only can it be an enriching form of guidance but it can also build and advance any child’s confidence and self-esteem. Many child psychologists and experts have highlighted the various benefits of healthy parent-child relationships and this is undeniably reflected in education too. I will go through some generic information and advice about how to become more […]

Setting aside the minor issue of the autumn leaves and the lovely, slight chill that September is associated with, the big event really is children going back to school. All the enthusiasm, the hope, the aspiration and the high levels of energy is lovely to see, irrespective of rain or sunshine. Class sizes have always been an issue in schools, particularly in the state sector. One of the key features that sets the independent schools apart is their relatively small […]

It’s no secret that overcrowding in today’s classrooms is a doomed reality, with teachers’ resources and capacities being stretched to new levels and students increasingly suffering the consequences. Overpopulated classes can have detrimental effects on even the brightest of students, causing gradual alienation from the subject being taught and leading to deterioration in concentration levels. Overcrowding can ignite the potential for chaos. Teacher morale can easily be swung by this and students can become disconnected and mentally absent if they […]

As part of our Be Informed posts, we want to assist you by simplifying some common education-related issues. Today we wanted to look at the differences between further education, sixth form and school-sixth form colleges. Further education colleges tend to be larger institutions with wider-ranging variety when it comes to qualifications and courses. It is likely that you will find people of different ages, social and educational backgrounds at these colleges. The array of qualifications on offer may include BTECs, […]