Setting the Scene for Success

It’s been a week of setting the scene for the academic year ahead with our tutees, making sure we know exactly what each of them wants to achieve by the end of the year. It’s been inspiring to see so many students already thinking about their long-term goals and what they want their academic journey with us to look like.

At GCSE and A Level, it’s especially important to have a clear understanding of the topics, papers, marks and percentages that make up each exam. This clarity provides students with the structure they need to plan their learning and revision effectively. That’s why, when we begin working with a new GCSE or A Level student, we always start by breaking down:

• The different exam papers they’ll sit

• The texts and topics they are studying at school

• The marks and weightings that contribute to their overall grade

Having this overview gives direction to their learning and helps them see how each lesson, piece of homework or practice paper feeds into the bigger picture. It transforms revision from something overwhelming into something manageable and targeted and this mindset shift can be the key difference between drifting through the year and making real progress.

The Importance of Checking Your Child’s Books

Parents and carers play a vital role in supporting their child’s learning journey and one of the simplest yet most powerful ways you can do this is by regularly looking through your child’s school exercise books.

Why? Because it gives you a real sense of:

• The work that has been completed recently

• How often and in what way teachers are providing feedback

• How your child is responding to that feedback

Good classroom practice suggests that teachers should aim to provide meaningful feedback on students’ work roughly every two weeks. This feedback may take different forms; written comments, coded marking, verbal feedback recorded in books or ‘green pen’ student responses, but the key is that your child should be acting on it.

As you check their books, ask:

• Are common errors being addressed and corrected?

• Is my child engaging with the suggestions made by teachers?

• Are they completing any follow-up tasks that have been set as part of feedback?

This simple routine can make a huge difference. It helps you spot any issues early and shows your child that their learning matters, both in school and at home.

Jemma’s Top Tips for Using English Revision Booklets

English revision isn’t like Maths or Science; you can’t just memorise facts and formulas. It’s about building skills, writing stamina and confidence with language. Here are Jemma’s five top tips for using revision booklets effectively:

1. Don’t just read.....write! Research shows that active recall improves long-term memory. After reading a section, close the booklet and write a short paragraph from memory, then check accuracy.

2. Practise under timed conditions. Stamina matters. Set a timer for 10 minutes and write a mini analysis or creative paragraph. Gradually increase the time.

3. Colour-code key techniques. Use highlighters to track where you’ve spotted methods (e.g. metaphor, tone shifts) and practise explaining their impact. This improves analytical precision.

4. Link back to exam criteria. After every piece of writing, annotate how you’ve addressed assessment objectives (AO1–AO6). This builds exam awareness and purpose.

5. Mix skills together. Revision booklets often separate reading and writing tasks, but exams combine them. Try planning an essay that integrates analysis, evaluation and creative language all in one.

Mental Health Focus: Good Sleep Hygiene

We can’t talk about learning without talking about sleep. Poor sleep affects concentration, memory and emotional regulation, which are all essential for success at school.

Good sleep hygiene means creating consistent habits and an environment that supports restful sleep:

• Keeping a consistent bedtime and wake time (even on weekends)

• Avoiding screens for at least 30 minutes before bed

• Having a calming pre-sleep routine (reading, stretching, journaling)

• Keeping the bedroom cool, dark and quiet

• Avoiding caffeine or heavy meals close to bedtime

The NHS and Sleep Foundation both emphasise that good sleep hygiene can significantly improve focus and learning outcomes. It’s one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to support your child’s education.

Life Outside the Books

Our sessions on the new Lesson Space online platform have been a real hit so far, with the added interactivity making lessons even more engaging. Its been brilliant to see students responding so positively. Outside of tutoring, we celebrated a lovely family 70th birthday over the weekend. And in the world of bedtime adventures, Arlo is keeping us on our toes as we try to move him into a big-boy bed. Hopefully you won’t hear him popping up mid-session… though if you do, we promise he won’t be marking essays just yet!

Have a great weekend and we'll see you next week.