As a parent of a modern student, the education system may appear a bit strange and confusing. The education system has changed so much in the past 5 years, let alone since you were previously at school, it can be hard to keep up.
The concept of extracurricular classes at a Birmingham tuition centre especially will be perplexing but with the demands on students growing more and more, these support classes are becoming more necessary.
Here we’re going to look at some of the big changes over the past couple of decades to the schooling system as well as changes for 2019. We will focus on state comprehensive schools when analysing change but our tips to keeping up with change will also be relevant to those who attend grammar schools as well.
How Education Has Changed Over The Decades
Academic success is still measured in the same way, with good exam results and a positive extracurricular experience. The core subjects also have not changed, with English, Maths and Science departments still receiving the most government funding, so you’d be forgiven for thinking that schools are basically the same.
The reach differences are due to the fact that there has been a massive change in attitude and approach to education over the years. Teachers impart knowledge to students in a totally different from way back. School is not as much of an occupation as it used to be back then, teachers are a lot more lenient on students than they were 60 years ago and more so education used to appear like a military camp but at present, it is a day camp.
It became a place of nourishment, to try and have students reach their full potential. This is highlighted by the raising of the school leaving age (ROSLA) from 15 to 16, as the government wanted to keep students learning and nurtured for as long as possible. This is because some children were sent straight into unskilled labour at a young age, so having them continue their education for longer allows them to become more skilled.
Modern Changes
The changes mentioned before are incredibly important but mostly describe changes that would affect grandparents rather than directly affecting current young family members. The school system is now built upon the values established in that era of change. Trying to prepare the next generation for adult life and equipping them with as many skills as possible, regardless of their social background.
So reform that was made across the 80s and 90s was aimed around improving upon the principles set earlier. The most influential and widely publicised studies suggested that, compared with family background, schools had relatively little influence on students’ life chances.
This determinist view of schooling led many to conclude that if schools don’t matter, then what you do in school doesn’t matter either. This logic justified the deconstruction of the curriculum and the lowering of standards and undercut those who believed that all children should study science (biology, chemistry and physics), mathematics, history, literature, foreign language, and the arts.
Therefore this led to a number of reforms in 1987 and 1994. This includes the introduction of a compulsory national curriculum. These changes were aimed at creating a ‘market’ in education with schools competing with each other for ‘customers’ (pupils). The theory was that “bad” schools would lose pupils to the “good” schools and either have to improve or close. This competitive edge added to schools was the beginning of the current school system your children are in.
How This Affects Your Children
This competitive shift for schools has now morphed how they work. It now means that schools are extremely exam-focused so they can stay more competitive than ever. Their aim is not only to have a great pass rate but also have a high percentage of students with top grades. This has now led to an emphasis on exam results in core exam subjects.
Over the past three academic years, the government has introduced a new, “more ambitious” National Curriculum and reformed qualifications and assessment at GCSE and A-Level. The curriculum has been slimmed down significantly so that teachers can focus on the “essential knowledge and skills every child should have.”
This emphasis on standardised curriculums means there is going to a reduction in both supportive and creative teaching methods. The government is aiming to give schools more autonomy with the academy act, but this autonomy is ending up with schools placing even more focus on the core subjects in the pursuit of funding.
How Your Birmingham Tuition Centre Aims To Support
Extracurricular classes, such as tuition centres in Birmingham city, allow your child to fill in the gaps in knowledge that the stretched school system is leaving. These classes allow teachers a lot more freedom in teaching style, making it more creative as well as personal.
At Achieving Success, our classes are tailored to your child and their ability. We understand that everyone learns differently and that standardised lessons and teaching methods don’t always work.
Regardless of whether you are looking for 11 Plus Tutoring, GCSE Tutoring, SATS or Grammar School Tutoring in Birmingham – Achieving Success is the premier tutoring agency in Birmingham. We provide tutoring for all the main exams and core subjects, including English, Maths and Science.
All of our programs are completely bespoke and taught in actual schools by fully qualified teachers who teach Monday to Friday outside of our sessions. This means they are fully engaged with the current academic syllabus and can help with all the upcoming exams.
Contact us today for any further information regarding your child’s path to success.
A common complaint that we hear from parents is that their child is simply not revising at home, below we explore some of the key reasons behind this:
They don’t know how to revise:
Teachers will often tell pupils that they need to revise for an upcoming test but never really break down for pupil how the revision should actually be done. There is a method and a means to effective revision – a key fact which is often overlooked.
Speak with your child and ask them if they actually know how to revise for the upcoming exam. Reassure them that not knowing how to revise does not make them inadequate; rather it allows them to get support from specialist teachers and tutors who will support them in preparing for exams far more effectively. It can often be difficult to know where to begin – an expert with experience will provide a structured revision programme and also give key pointers into the method of the revision itself.
The amount that they need to revise:
21st Century schooling requires pupils to take a range of different subjects culminating in them having to learn large amounts of information – any part of which can be tested in examinations.
Preparing early is the key. Breaking large amounts of information into manageable chunks will ultimately enable pupils to remember and retain information far more effectively. Bad time management will result in the student feeling very overwhelmed with the pressure of impending examinations, making it hard to process and digest key information points.
A study conducted in 2001 in the College Student Journal found that “Cramming” (the process of revising just before an exam whereby information is taken in very quickly with the hopes of remembering it in the exam) led to a more shallow-understanding of the subject material. It also found that students who “crammed” found the tests more difficult than those who had revised in good time.
Your child may think it’s too early to start revising in September:
It is a common mistake for young people to think that they have an abundance of time to prepare for their GCSE exams in Year 11. In fact, most experienced school practitioners will tell you that from January, it becomes a race for time; many schools scramble to finish courses which will have started as early as Year 9. Year 11 is seen as the critical time for revision – a time when all of the key content that has been taught and learnt from Year 9 is revisited and cemented into the pupils’ minds.
Encourage your child to start as early as possible, talk to them about how early revision will enable them to take a huge amount of pressure off their shoulders come the Easter term. Little-and-often is scientifically proven to be better than large chunks of information at a time.
Some pupils believe that they do not need to revise
As experienced classroom practitioners, we regularly come across parents who state that their child believes that they can pass the GCSE exams without any intervention as their natural intelligence will enable them to pass.
If your child has taken this approach, then it is important to discuss a different mind-set:
Growth mindset: A growth mindset encourages a young person to believe that they need to work as hard as they can to improve at every stage in their life. This mindset is healthy and enables young people to take every opportunity to develop their academic ability to do well in examinations, as well as pushing them hard to achieve success in every aspect of their lives.
A fixed mindset is the belief that destiny has written that a particular young person will always do very well, this means that they do not need to work hard and will always do well. This mindset is dangerous and destructive and often leads young people to either self destruct or underperform in their examinations.
Your child is too easily distracted?
In a world dominated by social media, games consoles and television, we often find parents complaining that their child has rushed homework or is simply not prioritising his/her academic progress.
The first priority is to know exactly which exams your child is due to take and the dates of those exams. Next, support your child in drawing up a study timetable. Your child needs to revise 1.5 hours per subject, per week. Good quality and consistent revision is the key to success.
If you are unsure about how to do this, contact the school or speak to your child’s tutor. At Achieving Success Tuition, all of the staff in our Birmingham Tuition Centres are fully-trained teachers who have years of experience, therefore they are perfectly placed to help you with any questions you may have.
WHY ACHIEVING SUCCESS IS YOUR BEST OPTION
Regardless of whether you are looking for 11 Plus Tutoring, GCSE Tutoring, SATS or Grammar School Tutoring in Birmingham – Achieving Success are the premier tutoring agency in Birmingham. We provide tutoring for all the main exams and core subjects, including English, Maths and Science.
Every year, we help hundreds of students achieve their potential through structured learning, a bespoke syllabus and top-quality teaching.
All of our programs are completely bespoke and taught in actual schools by fully qualified teachers who teach Monday to Friday outside of our sessions. This means they are fully engaged with the current academic syllabus and can help with all the upcoming exams.
Contact us today for any further information regarding your child’s path to success.
Competition for grades is getting more fierce amongst the next generation of young minds. 2019 saw an increase in top GCSE results for the second year in a row. Putting this into more concrete figures, more than one in five (20.8%) UK GCSE entries scored one of the three top grades in 2019. The number of students who received the “top” grades, which is roughly defined as at least a 7 (or A) grade, is at its highest since 2015.
Whilst some British children are clearly beginning to excel within the education system, some parents may fear that their children are not getting the attention and support they need to unlock their academic potential. Rising class sizes in many national schools is one of the biggest reasons for this concern. Private tutoring is a proven means of boosting your child’s practical understanding of a wide range of subjects and resulting in academic results.
Class learning in Birmingham tuition centres has become the favoured choice for parents wishing to provide their children with extra academic support. Keep reading to learn how to engage young minds with English tutors Birmingham private learning.
Who Needs Private Learning?
Private learning is a guaranteed means of instilling children with academic comprehension, self-confidence and the vital learning skills which are necessary to succeed in academic and later life.
There are many reasons why parents may opt for the services of English tutors Birmingham. Some parents may not have the required time to aid with school work, whilst some may simply feel as though their current schooling system is not supporting or challenging their children enough. This service is also a great option to keep students on track during extended breaks from school, such as the summer, Easter and Christmas periods.
Children who are currently going through tests or important exams can benefit from the extra support that Birmingham tuition centres can provide. Particularly, those revising for 11 Plus grammar school entrance exams over the summer may opt for private learning.
Ultimately, what better way to alleviate your child’s stress then have them go into their 11 plus, GCSE, A-Level of SATS exams knowing they’ve given themselves the best chance of success? Achieving Success’ 11 Plus Grammar School Programme has produced a 100% pass rate on all students who have gone through our programme. We boast fantastic results amongst all of our students, evidenced through us also boasting a 100% success rate for all students achieving a minimum of “Grade 5” in English and Maths GCSEs.
However, it is important to remember that children deserve a break from their studies in order to unwind and recharge. Another way in which we work with your child to produce academic success whilst also balancing emotional support is through tailoring a learning programme for your child which delivers the perfect blend of academic achievement and psychological downtime.
Personalised Learning
Bespoke, personalised learning is set up to help get to know your child’s strengths and weaknesses, whilst engaging with them accordingly. This is also beneficial as government changes to syllabus are constantly happening, meaning that we offer a fully-tailored, bespoke lesson plan to help tackle this inconsistency. Ultimately, this customised approach to learning allows students to perform at their best and be confident in exactly what they need to know for their specific school’s syllabus.
The smaller classroom sizes and expert teaching standards mean that students are more likely to be engaged and not “fade into the background”. This can, unfortunately, happen too often in standard schooling systems for children who are lacking engagement due to a variety of institutional factors (e.g. not receiving enough teacher attention due to classroom sizes).
Ultimately children will reap the benefits of tutors’ ability to adjust the pace, focus and goals of a lesson depending on the classes’ needs and abilities.
Bespoke Facilities and Resources
As we all know, people differ hugely in terms of where they work and learn the most productively. Some students may find it easy to revise at home or learn in the classroom, however, many will find that working in a cramped classroom or overly familiar environment (such as the family home), will not promote the best learning environment possible.
Bearing in mind every child’s unique needs and preferences, we offer purpose-built classrooms with the best facilities and learning tools. Through working with established schools, we have access to bespoke facilities and the best resources possible. The fact that schools trust us to use these facilities weekends is a testament to the high-quality level of tuition on offer.
A key part of learning engagement for young minds is also feeling safe and comfortable in their environment. All of the centres used are built to the highest government standards and have the necessary fire exits and first aiders on site. Our high-quality staff are also all DBS and fully police checked.
The teaching staff on offer through Achieving Success all have great prior experience at teaching at either primary or secondary school level. This added experience is vital to maintaining a cohesive level of academic focus and enthusiasm within the classroom. Our qualified staff will implement the right teaching strategies to keep your children on track to complete their work in the most engaging way possible.
Achieving Success Alongside Young Minds
Are you ready to engage your young minds with bespoke and expert private tutoring?
Regardless of whether you are looking for 11 Plus Tutoring, GCSE Tutoring, SATS or Grammar School Tutoring in Birmingham – Achieving Success is the premier tutoring agency in Birmingham. We provide tutoring for all the main exams and core subjects, including English, Maths and Science.
All of our programs are completely bespoke and taught in actual schools by fully qualified teachers who teach Monday to Friday outside of our sessions. This means they are fully engaged with the current academic syllabus and can help with all the upcoming exams.
Contact us today for any further information regarding your child’s path to success.
Private tutoring is a proven means of boosting your child’s practical understanding of a wide range of subjects and resulting in academic results. Class learning in tuition centres has become the favoured choice for parents wishing to provide their children with extra academic support.
There are multiple reasons why parents may deem private tuition necessary for their children. Some parents may not have the required time to aid with school work, whilst some may simply feel as though their current schooling system is not supporting or challenging their children enough. Private tuition is also a great option to keep students on track during extended breaks from school, such as the summer, Easter and Christmas periods.
With class sizes constantly on the rise, many parents may fear that their children are not getting the attention and support they need to unlock their academic potential. Our Birmingham tuition centres aim to further students’ academic comprehension, self-confidence and independent learning skills, leaving a lifetime of benefits
Keep reading to discover the pros and cons of class tuition and discover which means of private tutoring is the best option for your child.
Pro: Bespoke Learning
To keep up with constant government changes in the school syllabus, we offer a fully-tailored, bespoke lesson plan. This customised approach allows your child to perform at their best and feel confident in exactly what they need to know for their specific school’s syllabus.
Due to the smaller class sizes and expert teaching standards, students will reap the benefits of tutors’ ability to adjust the pace, focus and goals of a lesson depending on the classes’ needs and abilities.
Of course, 1-on-1 tuition will give your child even more of undivided attention than class tutoring, however, this is not necessarily a benefit. We find that many children work far better and likewise feel more comfortable in a communal environment surrounded by their peers, which is important for boosting their motivation to learn.
Pro: Fully Qualified Teachers
Whilst some private tuition companies may use tutors who have yet to graduate themselves, all of Achieving Success’ tutors are required to be currently teaching at either primary or secondary education level. Why?
The expertise that these tutors bring with them is vital in ensuring that your child is provided with the teaching pedagogy required to meet the demands of the new national curriculum.
Likewise, this added experience is vital to maintain a level of academic focus and enthusiasm within the classroom. Our qualified staff will implement the right teaching strategies to keep your children on track to complete their work in the most rewarding manner possible.
Any concerns regarding your child’s safety are dispelled through working with our multiple Birmingham tuition centres. A parent has every right to want their child to be placed within the safest and secure environment possible, which is why all of our staff are DBS and fully police checked.
Pro: Purpose-Built Facilities
Working in a cramped classroom or overly familial environment (such as the family home), will not promote the best learning environment possible for your child.
Achieving Success work with established schools, meaning that your child will study within purpose-built classrooms with the best facilities and learning tools. The simple fact that schools trust us to use these purpose-built facilities during weekends and after school emphasises the quality of tuition that we provide.
As your child’s safety is paramount, all of the centres used are built to the highest government standards and have the necessary fire exits and first aiders on site.
Working with 1-on-1 tuition may seem convenient as it can be performed from home, however, having your child work in an external learning environment will provide them with the focus necessary to succeed.
Pro: The Results Speak for Themselves
As does this subheading. Once your children are given the support and attention that they require, you will be amazed how quickly they are able to reach their learning potential.
All of our pupils at Achieving Success have amazing pass rates and have exceeded national levels across the board. Some of the best results include:
- 100% “Expected” and above SATs results (compared to the national average of 61%).
- 100% of pupils 11 Plus class pupils successfully passed their Grammar School exams.
- 100% GCSE achieved “Grade 5” in English and Maths.
- Two pupils came in the top 2% of the country in English and Maths for GCSE “Grade 8”.
Alongside academic success, your children will receive a firm grounding in independent learning, improving self-confidence and furthering their social skills. The love for learning is a vital skill which we promote in all of our students to ensure their long-term academic success.
Con: Cost
The financial strain of private tuition may be a burden which many families cannot afford to bare. Certain companies may price many parents out of the price bracket of their class tuition services. Such exclusivity can a bitter pill to swallow when it comes to your child’s academic success.
However, it is important to bear in mind that tuition should not be seen as a sunk cost, but rather as a worthwhile investment for the future of your children. Achieving Success wholly believe that every child deserves the opportunity to unlock their full potential. This is why we offer a great value for money service and aim to arrange a payment plan that suits your needs perfectly.
Are you worried about the affordability of private tuition? Please contact us to discuss your best options. In certain cases, we may be able to offer discounts on children from the same family and will do all we can to reach a financial solution that works for you.
Con: Stress
As an adult, it can be easy to envy a child’s seemingly carefree lifestyle. However, it is important to remember that students are given constant testing and increasingly harder academic challenges as time goes on.
An added level of stress can come with this constant emphasis on academic improvement. In such cases, sending your child through private tuition may seem like a mentally and emotionally draining option to take. Of course, depending on which tutoring company you choose, this may be true…
Certain tutors will place an unwavering emphasis on results, success and academic achievement no matter the costs. However, here at Achieving Success, we believe that a happy medium must be reached between academic success and maintaining the student’s emotional well-being and low stress-levels. This teaching strategy is vital, not only for your child’s happiness, but also to promote a long-term love of learning and academic enthusiasm which lasts a lifetime.
Why Achieving Success is Your Best Option
Regardless of whether you are looking for 11 Plus Tutoring, GCSE Tutoring, SATS or Grammar School Tutoring in Birmingham – Achieving Success are the premier tutoring agency in Birmingham. We provide tutoring for all the main exams and core subjects, including English, maths and science.
All of our programs are completely bespoke and taught in actual schools by fully qualified teachers who teach Monday to Friday outside of our sessions. This means they are fully engaged with the current academic syllabus and can help with all the upcoming exams.
Contact us today for any further information regarding your child’s path to success.
It is only natural as a parent to be concerned about whether your child is on course to unlock their academic potential. Whether it is due to feeling unsupported or challenged by their present school system, or an external factor which has impeded your child’s ability to learn, there are various reasons to invest in private tuition.
Our Birmingham tuition centre’s aims are to provide children with academic comprehension, self-confident and vital learning skills which are necessary to succeed. Private tuition is a great option to keep students on track during extended breaks from school, such as the Summer holidays. However, is this the right thing to do?
Some may argue that private tutoring over the summer is encroaching upon childrens’ rightful opportunity to relax and just be children. While the downtime is definitely beneficial and should not be neglected, combining this with tuition sessions could be of huge benefit to their long, medium and even short term well-being. Here, we will evaluate the circumstances in which private tuition during the summer months can be beneficial for students and help you decide whether this is the best option for your child.
Ensuring Success in 11 Plus Exams
Within the increasingly competitive and oversubscribed traditional school system, the option of attending an 11 plus grammar school is an enticing prospect for many parents.
Each grammar school will have their own specific examining body and syllabus which they test students on when deciding whether they can attend the school. Investing in the benefits of a summer tuition programme is a great option to ensure that your child has the best chance of getting into a grammar school and boosting their long-term academic potential.
Of course, children deserve a break from their studies. Achieving Success understands this and therefore allows you to tailor a learning programme for your child which delivers the perfect blend of academic achievement and emotional downtime.
What better way to alleviate your child’s stress then have them go into their 11 plus exams knowing they’ve given themselves the best chance of success? Achieving Success’ 11 Plus Grammar School Programme has produced a 100% pass rate on all students at our Birmingham tuition centre.
We combine a unique blend of teaching experience with modern techniques to equip your child with all the necessary skills and knowledge to pass their grammar test. Knowing your child has dedicated time for their studies with qualified teachers allows you to relax and plan more fun activities at home, allowing them to have the best of both worlds.
Making Up for Lost Time
For many children, there may have been personal or external circumstances outside of their family’s control which has resulted in time away from school. In other cases, academic regression cannot be explained as easily and may have simply been a result of a change in attitude or cognitive development experienced by your child.
Adolescents are constantly experiencing change, physically, socially, emotionally and psychologically. Therefore, a sudden change in academic performance is not unprecedented in developing students.
The summer holidays could give your child the chance to feel further motivated to succeed within a fresh and rewarding new environment. In any case, summer tuition can ultimately allow your child to make up for the lost time in their academic development. Our Birmingham tuition centre offers an expertly designed and taught syllabus to fill in any gaps in the curriculum students have missed.
Guaranteed GCSE Results
You probably don’t need reminding that GCSE results can be a pivotal moment in a child’s academic future. Of course, there are exciting options that lay ahead regardless of a student’s grades, they are not the be-all and end-all of life.
While not all paths to success are built upon good GCSE grades, the simple truth is that the pool of options remain larger when certain grades are achieved. Particular colleges and apprenticeships, for example, will require students to have reached a minimum grade in the likes of Maths, English & Science.
To help guarantee that your child achieves the necessary results to springboard them into the next platform of their journey, why not invest in the benefits of our Birmingham tuition centre’s GCSE tuition?
100% of Achieving Success’ students obtained “Grade 5” (or above) in English and Maths GCSEs. Two pupils from this cohort also came in the top 2% of the country in English and Maths for GCSE “Grade 8”.
When Summer Tutoring Is Not Necessary
Here at Achieving Success, we place a dual-emphasis on maintaining and bettering the emotional and mental wellbeing of your child, whilst simultaneously promoting their academic performance. In light of this, we find it necessary to speak candidly about circumstances in which summer tutoring may not be necessary.
If your child is performing well at school, then naturally you want to do all you can to maintain this achievement. While this is understandable, it is equally important not to overly strain their mental capacity and willingness to learn. Excess stress can be just as detrimental to academic achievement as educational negligence.
With this in mind, Achieving Success implement an honest and reputable practice which will guarantee that a student’s well being is not compromised for the good of grades. There are various programmes available at our Birmingham tuition centres to ensure that your child is able to unlock their academic potential, within a reasonable time frame which suits their specific needs.
To ensure our learning experience benefits your child best, each child takes a free assessment paper, giving us an indication of their specific needs and abilities. Following this, our team will provide feedback to you as a parent, informing you of our expectations and designing a plan to help your child develop in the best way possible.
Why Achieving Success is Your Best Option
Do you believe that your child could benefit from summer tutoring?
As the premier tutoring agency in Birmingham, all of our sessions are completely bespoke and taught real schools by experts who genuinely care about your child’s well-being and academic achievement. Our classes are taught by fully qualified teachers, working in real schools Monday to Friday. This means our tutors are fully clued up on the current curriculum and can help your student succeed in the upcoming exams.
Alongside summer tuition, we are currently offering tuition programmes from Years 1 to GCSE and all core subjects including maths, English and science. We ensure that your child has the best chance to succeed in every stage of their educational journey and attain academic success.
Contact us today for any further information and we can get your child on track to unlocking their full potential.
