Bouncebackability: Why Resilience Matters and How to Help This week I have spoken with two sets of worried parents who have teenage children with very different difficulties. On the face of it their situations bore no resemblance to each other, except for one important aspect: the parents were all engaged, well-meaning and desperate to help give their children...
How to Choose the Right A-Level Subjects for Your Career Path A-Levels are a pivotal step in shaping your academic future and career direction. The subjects you choose will not only influence your day-to-day learning for the next two years but will also significantly impact your university options, UCAS applications, and eventual career opportunities. That’s why making the right A-Level subject...
Top 10 GCSE Subjects That Will Shape Your Future Career and Boost Your Opportunities Picking your GCSE subjects can feel like a pretty big deal. There are so many choices, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Among these choices, there are mandatory subjects that all students must take, providing a strong foundation for future learning and opportunities. But the right subjects really can open...
10 Benefits of an Online Summer School for Primary-Aged Children 10 Benefits of an Online Academic Summer School for Primary-Aged Children (7-11 Years) The advent of online learning has revolutionised education, making it more accessible, flexible, and inclusive than ever before. This transformation is especially beneficial for primary-aged children, a group that thrives on engaging, interactive, and carefully tailored educational...
Taking GCSEs As A Mature Student How To Take GCSEs As A Mature Student Returning to education to take GCSEs as a mature student can be a rewarding journey that opens new career paths and personal development opportunities. Whether you missed out on formal qualifications in your school years or need specific GCSEs to progress in...
The Secret Parent Playbook: How to Coach Your Teen Through Exams (Without Them Noticing!) As the parent of a teenager, you may have found that the days of your child hanging on your every word are long gone. Instead, you may now be met with the classic eyeroll, the exasperated sigh, or the dreaded door slamming when you try to offer advice. But with...
Maximise Your GCSE or A Level Exam Success with Easter Revision Courses at BTC As GCSE and A-Level exams draw closer, the pressure to perform well can feel overwhelming. Students often find themselves struggling to consolidate months of learning, identify gaps in their knowledge, and develop effective exam techniques. If this sounds familiar, then an Easter Revision Course at Bristol Tutorial College (BTC) is...
Alternative Pathways for Post-16 Students in the UK: Exploring Options Beyond A Levels For many students in the UK, the traditional A Level route is the most common post-16 pathway. Many parents, and their teenage children, assume that the A Level option is ‘best’. But what happens if your son or daughter isn’t engaged with their A Levels, finds the subject choices too...
A Complete Guide to Retaking A-Levels: Succeed in Maths and More A-levels are a key milestone in a student’s academic journey, influencing future opportunities in higher education and beyond. If you don’t achieve your desired results the first time, retaking your A-levels gives you a second chance to reach your full potential. Why Retake A-Levels? Retaking A-levels can open doors to...
Exploring How Teenage Students Find Effective Ways to Learn Exploring How Today’s Teenagers Find Effective Ways to Learn How to Help, Not Hinder 20th January 2025 Introduction Teenagers today are navigating a rapidly changing educational landscape influenced by technology, social expectations, and evolving teaching and learning approaches. In this blog I will explore how our Gen Z children discover...
Teenage Anxiety and Its Impact on School Attendance, Reluctance, and Refusal 3rd January 2025 Teenage Wellbeing is a Hot Topic There have been a number of reports and articles about teenage wellbeing recently published which could, understandably, raise concerns in parents. Does my child show signs of anxiety? How will I know? Is it my fault? What can I do about...
Can I Retake My Maths A Level? If your Maths A Level results weren’t what you’d hoped for – don’t panic! You’re not alone, and retaking the exam is an option. Whether you need a higher grade for university entrance or simply want to improve your knowledge, this guide will walk you through everything you need to...
Revision Top Tip #4 How to Revise Effectively and Remember it the Next Day! 12th December 2024 There’s nothing more demotivating than spending hours learning something, feeling really accomplished, and then discovering that you have forgotten every bit of content by the next day, and knowing you must start all over again. By thinking about your learning style, you can revise effectively and remember...
Revision Top Tip #3 Motivation, Accountability and Rewards 7th December 2024 How do you motivate your teenager to stick to their revision schedule? Once the initial burst of enthusiasm has worn off, do you turn to pleading, bribery, punishments or switching off yourself? Getting your child’s buy-in on any strategies is the key to implementing a successful revision...
What is Executive Functioning and Why Does it Matter? Why is it that sometimes we understand and learn well, and other times our brains don’t seem to work properly? It could be that poor executive functioning is to blame. So what is executive functioning? What affects it? And how can I ensure I function efficiently when needed? Last week,...
Revision Top Tips #2 – Learning Styles and Effective Revision Strategies 1st December 2024 How can understanding your learning style help with revision? I used to roll my eyes when my children came home from school with spellings homework, and non-negotiable instructions to learn them with the ‘look, say, cover, write, check’ method. Now maybe that method works for some children,...
Revision Top Tips #1 – Setting a Realistic Schedule 26th November 2024 This is the first of a series of blogs about how to revise most effectively for exams. Specifically, I am thinking about mock exams, but they are equally as applicable for the main summer exams, and for instilling good revision habits in children of all ages. #1...
Looking in the rear-view mirror: a review of online teaching and learning A perspective by BTC teacher, Lucy Wayman I have taught and learned in the online space for over a decade. The developments that have taken place over this time have been phenomenal. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry when I think back on some lessons I have delivered....
Momentum Here at Bristol Tutorial College, we’ve received a growing number of enquiries from parents whose teenagers have disengaged from traditional school pathways and who do not show enthusiasm for school and learning. We have been building and delivering bespoke programmes for these teenagers, to rebuild their confidence, develop their skills,...
Square Pegs and Round Holes – Surely There’s An Alternative? Half term is upon us. The school year is well and truly underway, and the rest of the academic year feels mapped out and predictable. The teething problems of settling into a new year group have abated, and children are in a routine of school, homework, sport and leisure time....
