A-level
A-level Results – congratulations and what next?
For those students who are receiving the results of their A-level today, it is a significant moment in their lives – probably the most important event so far. It is possible that there will be other events in the future that may well be just as important or even more so, but the significance of…
Read MoreIs A-level Maths worth its weight in gold?
This is the conclusion of a four-part blog post in which I discuss issues associated with the decline in the uptake of A-level Maths by young people. In this final part, I will be continuing my argument as to why young people should not give up on Maths too easily and that we must do…
Read MoreA-level Maths – should I or should I not – will my figures add up?
In my last couple of blog posts, I looked at changes in the Maths curriculum and also highlighted the fact that there has been a significant fall in the number of students who are taking up A-level Maths. The reasons attributed to these are: the harder GCSE Maths, which has made more young people less…
Read MoreThe decoupling of AS from the full A-level means that it no longer counts towards A-level
In my last blog post, the first of a four-series discussion about the changes that are happening to both GCSE and A-level Maths, I explained the key changes to GCSE Maths and why young people and teachers are concerned. Today, I will first of all look at the changes that have been implemented in the…
Read MoreFewer young people taking A-level Maths – a tragedy or a blessing?
It was recently reported in the TES (Times Educational Supplements), among other media, that there has been a significant reduction in the number of young people taking A-level Maths. The TES report showed a table comparing the number of students applying to take A-level Maths in September 2016 to those who are applying to study…
Read MoreFocus on getting the grade best A-level grades you can
With places at the very top universities becoming more and more difficult to get, the pressure on young people to achieve high grades continues. At this critical stage of the exam preparation, it’s important for the young person to focus on what they need to do in order to secure as high a grade as…
Read MoreThree Key Components for Exam Success
Achieving highly academically isn’t necessarily about being super bright, as many wrongly assume. I’ve had the advantage of teaching Physics to many bright young people in grammar schools and independent schools over the last couple of decades and I’ve seen young people of average ability, or just above, achieving high examination grades. At the same…
Read MoreThe Christmas break – getting more out of the Festive period
The school Christmas holiday period is a critical time for parents and their children – particular teenagers who are at a key stage of their education. Teenagers may not be as excited about Christmas as they were when they were younger children, but, nevertheless, there are still plenty of emotions flying around. Whilst it is…
Read MoreRelax, Reflect and Renew – that’s what teenagers do in the summer!
Relax, Reflect and Renew – that’s what teenagers do in the summer! Thinking about it, I don’t know which arouses the highest level of excitement: the anticipation of the summer break or the actual experience! Every year – after all the highs and lows of Christmas, as soon as all the credit card bills have…
Read MoreA shocking set of statistics – Resit of GCSE examinations ‘does not work’
It is rather depressing to see that most young people who sit their GCSE in Maths examinations for the second time fail to achieve any improvement. For English, over 60% of those who resit do not improve on the grade they achieved when they sat the exam for the first time. The figure is…
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