In the dynamic world of modern education, students are not only engaged in academics but are also immersed in a plethora of extracurricular opportunities.

These activities, from sports and arts to community service, play a pivotal role in shaping their character, instilling discipline, and providing diverse life experiences.

The challenge, however, is in achieving a harmonious blend of both these worlds. This guide offers insights and tangible strategies to help students gracefully navigate their academic and extracurricular commitments.

1. Prioritise and Plan

At the heart of effective time management lies the ability to discern between what’s urgent and what’s important.

This is especially crucial for students who must juggle multiple commitments. Creating a visual representation of their week or month through detailed schedules can preemptively identify potential overlaps between school assignments and extracurricular engagements.

📌 Top Tip: Embracing digital tools, such as calendar apps, can be transformative. They not only serve as visual aids but also come equipped with features like reminders and conflict alerts. This proactive approach minimises the risk of overcommitting and helps in designating dedicated time blocks for each activity.

2. Stay Organised

Organisational prowess isn’t just about cleanliness; it’s about efficiency.

By maintaining order in both their physical and virtual spaces, students can significantly reduce the time wasted in searching for materials or information, leading to enhanced productivity.

📌 Top Tip: Start by designating specific areas or folders for each type of activity. A study corner equipped with all necessary supplies, a digital folder dedicated to each subject, and a systematic arrangement of extracurricular gear can streamline daily routines.

Regularly decluttering these spaces ensures that only essential items remain, making tasks more manageable and less overwhelming.

3. Opt for Flexible Learning Solutions

In today’s diverse educational landscape, flexibility is paramount. ClassTutor stands out by offering top-tier educators, carefully selected from renowned universities, all at an affordable price bracket.

These teachers specialise in delivering captivating online lessons designed to propel your child to their peak academic potential. With a straightforward registration process and an intuitive Portal for parents to monitor their child’s performance, ClassTutor offers a seamless learning experience.

📌 Top Tip: Platforms like ClassTutor ensure that academic progression remains uninterrupted, even with a bustling extracurricular calendar. Explore their Class Times to align seamlessly with your child’s existing schedule.

4. Set Realistic Goals

Ambition is commendable, but overextension can lead to stress and exhaustion. Students must gauge their capacities honestly and set achievable goals that challenge them without causing burnout.

📌 Top Tip: Allocate moments for self-reflection. Periodically assess the feasibility of current commitments.

Are certain activities consistently feeling like a strain? Perhaps it’s time to revisit and adjust the plan. Remember, the aim is continuous growth without compromising well-being.

5. Communication

In the varied journey of school life, open channels of communication with mentors, educators and peers are invaluable.

By keeping them informed about upcoming events, deadlines, or potential scheduling conflicts, students can often find collaborative solutions.

📌 Top Tip: Encourage regular check-ins with academic and extracurricular mentors. Sharing calendars or creating a shared platform for communication can foster a supportive environment where adjustments can be made collaboratively, ensuring the student’s holistic development.

6. Importance of Rest

In the pursuit of excellence, downtime often gets sidelined. Yet, it’s the silent fuel that powers sustained performance. Rejuvenating the mind and body through rest not only enhances daily productivity but also improves long-term resilience.

📌 Top Tip: Incorporate relaxation techniques into daily routines. This could be in the form of mindfulness exercises, short power naps, leisurely walks, or just unplugging from screens and immersing in nature.

These seemingly simple breaks can remarkably revitalise energy levels and foster better focus.

The art of balancing schoolwork with extracurricular activities is a testament to a student’s adaptability and determination.

With the right strategies, tools, and mindset, they can not only achieve this balance but also extract the maximum value from both domains, setting them up for a future marked by resilience, versatility, and success.

Tamina Khalil

Founding Partner

As the new academic year approaches, the promise of fresh beginnings resonates. For students, this period can be a blend of enthusiasm and anticipation.

To make the transition smoother and to ensure they are set up for success, here are five essential steps that every student and parent should consider.

1. Organise and Equip

✏️ Why it Matters: Walking into a classroom or a virtual study space fully equipped and organised can make a world of difference. It’s akin to a craftsman having all the tools in place before starting a masterpiece.

For students, it not only enhances their confidence but also eliminates unnecessary anxieties related to being under-prepared or missing out on essential materials.

📌 Top Tip: Prioritise a thorough check of school supply lists and ensure your child’s backpack or study area is ready and organised before school starts.

2. Set Clear Academic Goals

✏️ Why it Matters: Imagine embarking on a journey without a map or destination. Setting academic goals is a roadmap for students.

It gives direction, motivation, and a sense of purpose. These goals can also act as personal benchmarks, helping students gauge their progress and adjust their efforts as the year unfolds.

📌 Top Tip: Engage in a meaningful discussion with your child to understand and set realistic, achievable objectives for the year.

3. Stay Informed and Engaged

✏️ Why it Matters: In the dynamic landscape of education, staying informed ensures that both students and parents are aligned with the school’s expectations and updates.

Active engagement fosters a sense of belonging, keeps any academic or administrative surprises at bay, and ensures that opportunities for growth, both inside and outside the classroom, are never missed.

📌 Top Tip: Dedicate weekly time to review school communications and encourage your child to maintain an updated planner.

4. Establish a Consistent Study Routine

✏️ Why it Matters: Just as athletes train regularly to stay in top form, students benefit immensely from a consistent study routine.

Such regularity not only builds academic discipline but also ensures a balanced life where there’s time for rest, play, and other interests. Over time, this routine becomes a reassuring rhythm, easing academic pressures.

📌 Top Tip: Work collaboratively with your child to carve out a daily study schedule, ensuring it aligns with their natural rhythms and commitments.

5. Explore Group Tutoring

✏️ Why it Matters: Every student’s learning style is unique. While some thrive in traditional classroom settings, others benefit from the collaborative energy of group studies.

Group tutoring offers a blend of diverse perspectives, peer interactions, and focused guidance. It can bridge gaps, reinforce concepts, and provide fresh insights into complex topics.

📌 Top Tip: Consider incorporating occasional group tutoring sessions into your child’s routine, offering them a holistic learning environment.

In summary, as we usher in the new school year, a blend of preparation, clear objectives, engagement, consistent routines, and diverse learning approaches can pave the way for academic success.

The journey ahead is filled with promise, and with the right steps, every student can navigate it with confidence and flair.

Tamina Khalil

Founding Partner

As you prepare to apply for university, the personal statement serves as your unique identifier, a chance to showcase who you are, what you’re passionate about, and why you’re the ideal candidate for the course you’re applying for.

With most applicants brandishing excellent grades, the personal statement is your golden opportunity to stand out from the crowd.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into crafting a personal statement that answers two fundamental questions: “Why you?” and “Why this course?”

Demonstrating Advanced Learning and Intellectual Curiosity

• Engage in Specialised Lectures and Courses: One way to signal your commitment and intellectual curiosity is by seeking advanced learning opportunities beyond the standard curriculum. Attending online lectures or enrolling in specialised courses related to your chosen field shows you are proactive and passionate, adding depth and colour to your personal statement.
• Read Widely and Dive into Debates: If you want to display genuine passion, you can’t go wrong by reading widely about your chosen subject. Engage with academic papers, explore controversial debates, and understand differing viewpoints. Your willingness to delve deep into your field of interest will reflect positively in your personal statement.

Practical Exposure and Real-World Applications

• Participate in Seminars and Workshops: Universities appreciate students who can apply theoretical concepts practically. Whether it’s attending industry seminars, workshops, or webinars, such experiences add a layer of authenticity and richness to your personal statement.
• Understand the Wider Implications: Your chosen field does not exist in a vacuum, it interacts with the world at large. Demonstrating that you understand the broader economic, social, or technological implications of your subject can provide your personal statement with an extra layer of depth.

Unveiling Your Unique Personality

• Reflect on Your Personal Experiences: A captivating personal statement often includes unique, even life-changing, experiences. These experiences offer a profound insight into your subject of interest and can set you apart from other applicants.
• Self-Development and Personal Growth: Be candid about your journey towards self-improvement. Whether it’s working to turn weaknesses into strengths or refining your existing skill set, discussing your efforts toward personal growth can make you an attractive candidate.
• Your Mission and Vision: Discuss your long-term goals and aspirations, giving a sense of your purpose. A clearly articulated vision can make you appear focused and driven, traits that are appealing to admissions officers.

Iteration is Key

Writing a personal statement is a process that often requires multiple drafts and iterations. Always remember to keep the central questions in focus: “Why you?” and “Why this course?”

As you refine your personal statement, each revision should bring you closer to answering these pivotal questions compellingly.

Checklist for Crafting an Outstanding Personal Statement

To ensure your personal statement is comprehensive and leaves no stone unturned, here’s a quick checklist:

Core Elements

• Introduction with a captivating opening
• Thesis statement outlining your passion and suitability
• Demonstrating Advanced Learning and Intellectual Curiosity
  Mention advanced courses or lectures
• Discuss extended reading and debates

Practical Exposure and Real-World Applications

• List attended seminars and workshops
• Share internships or practical experiences
• Include global awareness related to your field

Unveiling Your Unique Personality

• Share life experiences that shaped your perspective
• Discuss hobbies and interests
• Detail self-development efforts
• Articulate long-term goals and aspirations
• Connect how all these apply to your chosen field of interest

Concluding Statement

• Summary of why you’re the right candidate
• A compelling call to action

Additional Tips
Check for grammar and spelling errors

• Ensure the statement flows well
• Verify the statement meets the length requirements
• Be prepared for multiple drafts
• Seek feedback from trusted individuals

Your personal statement is more than just an essay; it’s a window into who you are. By carefully incorporating each of these elements, you increase your chances of crafting a statement that resonates with admissions officers, setting you on the path to university success.

Good Luck!

Tamina Khalil

Founding Partner

As we approach the final week of the summer holidays, it’s an ideal time to take our children on a fascinating journey, broadening their horizons and deepening their appreciation for the world’s vibrant tapestry of cultures.

All this can be achieved from the comfort of our homes. Through the languages of art, music, food, and technology, we can transform these last days of summer into a captivating cultural adventure.

A Lasting Impression: Art from Across the Globe

Art is a poignant reflection of a society’s history, emotions, and beliefs, making it a beautiful gateway to understanding different cultures.

As we enter the last leg of the summer holidays, why not travel to Japan through the art of Origami? The process of transforming simple sheets of paper into intricate sculptures can be a mindful, creative experience for your children, while also sparking conversations about Japanese traditions and history.

The Universal Language: Dance and Music

Music and dance offer a dynamic way to explore the world. Dedicate a few afternoons to learning dance moves from different cultures.

One day, you could be twirling to the beats of Flamenco, and the next, swaying to the rhythm of the Hula dance. These sessions can provide an energetic workout while also serving as a fun and immersive cultural lesson.

Virtual Art Galleries and Museums

Many of the world’s most renowned art galleries and museums offer virtual tours. From the Natural History Museum and Museum of London to the Louvre in Paris, these tours can be a fascinating way for your children to engage with global cultures and history.

Culinary Journey: A Taste of the World at Home

The art of cooking brings countries right into our kitchens.

Sites like BBC Good Food are treasure troves of simple, child-friendly international recipes. Prepare dishes from various parts of the world, from a French quiche Lorraine to Middle Eastern hummus and falafel.

It’s not just about savouring the cuisine but also understanding mealtime customs and culinary histories.

Interactive Learning Through Apps

There are plenty of educational apps that offer cultural exploration through interactive games and activities.

An excellent resource is the onecourse app developed by onebillion. This child-friendly app not only aids in literacy and numeracy but also immerses children in elements of cultural learning from around the globe. Its engaging activities can introduce the basics of different languages, further broadening their understanding of various cultures.

Digital Puzzles and Quizzes

Test and enhance your child’s cultural knowledge with digital puzzles and quizzes. Platforms like Sporcle provide geography quizzes that are both entertaining and educational.

Challenge them to name countries, identify flags, or recognise capitals and see their global awareness expand.

The End of a Summer, The Beginning of a Cultural Journey
While the summer holidays may be drawing to a close, the journey of cultural exploration is just beginning. Through engaging activities involving art, dance, and food, we can instil in our children an enduring curiosity and respect for the diverse world we inhabit.

As we gear up for the school year ahead, let’s make this last week a memorable one, filled with fun, learning, and global adventures right at home.

Tamina Khalil

Founding Partner

Summer’s here, but perhaps the weather isn’t playing along. Yet, this shouldn’t dampen our spirits or our efforts to keep our families active, fit, and healthy.

Whether the sun’s shining or the rain is pouring, there’s always an opportunity to squeeze in some fun exercise. Physical activity is a cornerstone of wellness, and it’s about more than just keeping in shape.

It’s about instilling a sense of teamwork, building family connections, and most importantly, spreading joy.

Embrace the Great Outdoors – When You Can:

When the weather is on your side, take advantage of it. Consider planning a leisurely family bike ride through your local park.

The fresh air, the lush greenery, and the shared laughter will transform this exercise into a mini adventure. Don’t forget to pack a picnic for a well-deserved break.

Even a walk around the neighbourhood can become an exciting expedition if you turn it into a nature scavenger hunt.

Engaging Indoor Activities:

On those days when the skies are grey, there are still plenty of ways to get moving indoors. Arrange a treasure hunt around the house. Hide small items for your kids to find.

Not only does this activity promote physical movement, but it also encourages problem-solving skills. On some evenings, why not initiate a family tradition of post-dinner dance-offs?

You can take turns choosing the music, and everyone gets to burn off some energy before bedtime. It’s an excellent outlet for creativity, expression, and laughter.

Maintain Active Even on Quiet Days:

Even on quieter days, maintain an active lifestyle with gentle exercises. Consider morning stretching routines or family yoga sessions. These activities can promote flexibility, calmness, and mindfulness.

You could also follow an online workout or try some simple strength exercises like squats, push-ups, and lunges. It’s easy to modify these to suit different fitness levels, and they can be done in the living room.

Active Chores – Make Them Fun:

Also, everyday tasks can double as active chores. Whether it’s washing the car on a sunny day, having a tidy-up race where you see who can clean up their space the fastest, or walking the family pet around the block during a break in the weather, these tasks can be both productive and enjoyable.

Staying active during the summer break goes beyond maintaining physical fitness. It’s about instilling a love for physical activity, creating an atmosphere of healthy living, and most importantly, making memories.

Even if the weather isn’t your ally this summer, let’s make sure we shake off the inertia, embrace the energy of the season, and ensure it’s an active, healthy, and fun-filled one for the whole family.

Tamina Khalil

Founding Partner

The true allure of mathematics lies in its applicability in our daily lives. By blending learning with everyday activities and hobbies, children not only develop a fondness for numbers but also understand their practical significance.

Here’s how you can make math a delightful experience for your child during the summer holidays:

1. Math-Based Mobile Apps:

Digital platforms are wonderful tools for blending education with entertainment.

The Numeracy unit of the onecourse app by onebillion stands out because of its child-friendly interface, captivating challenges, and its alignment with foundational mathematical concepts. It makes learning effortless and enjoyable.

2. Independent Cooking Projects:

Cooking is also a mix of art and science.

By measuring ingredients and understanding portions, children learn about quantities, fractions, and volume. Preparing something as simple as a sandwich can introduce concepts of halves or quarters, and the end result is delicious!

3. Personal Finance Projects:

Saving for a coveted item teaches children the importance of planning, patience, and goal-setting.

By breaking down the total cost and determining how much needs to be saved daily or weekly, kids actively employ arithmetic operations and gain a basic understanding of financial management.

4. Maths in Video Games:

Minecraft, one of the world’s most popular video games, is more than just virtual building blocks, it’s a platform teeming with opportunities to apply and learn mathematical concepts.

• Spatial Awareness and Geometry: Minecraft is based on a grid of cubes, making it a natural environment for understanding three-dimensional space. Players can construct various geometric structures, understanding shapes and symmetries intuitively as they build.
• Resource Management: As players gather materials like wood, stone, and metals, they need to keep track of quantities. When constructing or crafting, they often perform basic arithmetic operations, subtracting resources used and adding the ones they collect.
• Redstone Circuitry: Redstone in Minecraft is used to construct circuits, similar to basic electrical circuits. Building with Redstone can introduce players to the principles of logic gates, binary systems, and circuit design.
• Area and Volume Calculations: When creating larger structures or enclosing spaces, players naturally calculate the area of their base or the volume of a building. They might need to figure out how many blocks are required to complete a structure, leading to multiplication and division tasks.
• Time Management: Minecraft has day and night cycles. Players often plan their activities based on this, which can involve estimating the time needed for various tasks and efficiently allocating their in-game time.
• Trading and Economics: The game has a trading system with villager NPCs. Players can practice their negotiation skills, evaluate the value of trade items, and even understand basic economic principles like demand and supply through these trades.

The immersive nature of Minecraft, combined with its flexibility, allows players, especially children, to apply mathematical concepts without even realising they are learning. This seamless integration of fun and learning is what makes the game a valuable educational tool for numerous subjects, especially maths.

5. Online Math Puzzles and Challenges:

Websites like Coolmath Games are treasure troves of brain teasers that challenge kids to think critically. Whether it’s solving a geometric puzzle or navigating a number maze, these platforms keep children mentally stimulated while ensuring they’re entertained.

6. DIY Crafting Projects:

Crafts are hands-on activities that reinforce measurements, symmetry, and geometry. Whether it’s folding an origami bird or constructing a paper aeroplane, such projects enhance precision and spatial understanding, all while nurturing creativity.

7. Online Shopping:

While virtual shopping, kids can practice addition, subtraction, and multiplication as they try to fit their desired items within a given budget.

This activity promotes smart decision-making and introduces them to concepts of value and economy.

8. Fitness Tracker Analysis:

Analysing steps, heart rate, or sleep patterns from fitness trackers is a modern way of introducing data interpretation.

By charting their daily stats, kids learn about averages, patterns, and trends, which are foundational statistical concepts.

9. Virtual Travel Planning:

Planning a virtual tour offers a multi-dimensional learning experience.

From understanding geographical distances to budgeting for tickets and converting foreign currencies, kids unknowingly employ various mathematical concepts, making learning global and fun.

10. TV Shows

Shows like Horrible Histories and Odd Squad subtly introduce mathematical concepts within their engaging storylines.

Watching these shows is not just about entertainment; post-viewing discussions can revolve around the mathematical elements presented, leading to deeper comprehension.

The brilliance of mathematics isn’t limited to textbooks or classrooms; it’s interwoven into the very fabric of our daily lives.

Embracing these fun and immersive activities during the summer holidays can transform the perception of maths from being a daunting subject to an exciting adventure.

By integrating it seamlessly into enjoyable pursuits, we can foster not only an understanding but a genuine appreciation for maths in our children, setting them up for a lifetime of curiosity and learning.

Talha Ghannam

Founding Partner

As we reach the midpoint of the summer holidays, maintaining children’s interest in academic subjects like mathematics might seem challenging.

Yet, by embracing a spirit of adventure and innovation, mathematics can transform into an enthralling expedition brimming with enjoyable challenges and puzzles.

Making Math Fun and Engaging: The magic of making math interesting lies in its integration into daily activities and hobbies. Here are ten engaging ways you can incorporate maths into your child’s everyday life during the six-week summer holiday:

1. Garden Exploration:

Encourage your child to count different types of plants or flowers in your garden or a nearby park, simultaneously learning about nature and practicing their counting and categorisation skills.

2. Cooking Extravaganza:

Get your child involved in summer cooking. Making a new recipe can be a fantastic way to introduce fractions and measurements. Plus, they get to enjoy the tasty results of their math exercise!

3. Supermarket Shop:

Turn a trip to the supermarket into a fun math adventure. Have your child estimate the total cost of the items in your trolley, or try to find the best deals by comparing prices

4. Sports Day:

Organise a family sports day with activities like the long jump, running races, and throwing competitions. It’s a great way to apply measurements and statistics in a fun setting.

5. Map Reading:

Planning a family outing? Why not let the kids navigate? Reading maps helps to develop an understanding of scales and distances.

6. DIY Time Capsule:

Have your child create a summer time capsule, documenting the number of days spent in activities, books read, or miles travelled. It’s a great way to integrate counting and tracking over time.

7. Travel Mathematics:

If you’re going on a road trip, have your child calculate the estimated time of arrival based on speed and distance. This helps introduce concepts of speed, distance, and time.

8. Money Management:

Set up a ‘summer holiday budget’ for treats, outings, or new toys, helping them understand the value of money and the basics of budgeting.

9. Star Gazing:

A clear summer’s night offers a perfect opportunity to stargaze. Older children can explore more complex maths by learning about light years and the distance between stars or constellations.

10. Nature Walk Bingo:

Create a bingo card with various natural items to spot (e.g., five oak trees, three squirrels, etc.). This turns a simple walk into a fun counting and categorising game.

Embracing mathematics through such fun and engaging activities can turn what is often seen as a challenging subject into an adventurous exploration.

The summer break is a brilliant opportunity to embed numeracy skills in a relaxed, enjoyable manner.

Let’s seize the day and embark on a thrilling mathematical journey with our children, arming them with skills they will use throughout their lives.

Talha Ghannam

Founding Partner

Unleash the budding scientist within your child this summer! With common household items, transform your home into a personal science lab.

Here, we present ten hands-on, educational experiments that will keep your kids engaged and foster a love for science.

1. Pine Cone Weather Station:

Kickstart your science adventures with this simple experiment related to weather patterns. By observing a pine cone, your child can predict the UK’s varying humidity levels.

Materials: Pine cone, notebook, pen.

Procedure: Place the pine cone in an open space. Observe its scales every day – when they’re closed, it indicates higher humidity, and when they’re open, it indicates lower humidity. Document observations in the notebook to track changes in humidity levels.

2. Flower Dissection:

Delve into the world of botany with a flower dissection. This colourful experiment helps children understand the parts of a flower and their functions.

Materials: A flower (preferably a lily or another large-petalled flower), tweezers, magnifying glass and paper.

Procedure: Gently remove each part of the flower and lay them out on the paper. Use the magnifying glass to observe structures like the stigma, stamen, and petals. Discuss the function of each part.

3. Potato Battery:

Explore the power of chemical reactions with a potato battery. By using a potato, copper coins, zinc-plated screws, and wires, your child can create their own source of electricity!

Materials: Potato, two copper coins, two zinc-plated screws, wires, LED bulb (optional).

Procedure: Insert a coin and a screw into opposite ends of the potato, ensuring they don’t touch. Attach wires to the coin and screw. Touch the other ends of the wires to the LED bulb’s legs – it should light up!

4. Homemade Volcano:

Demonstrate acid-base reactions in an exciting way with a homemade volcano. Use baking soda, vinegar, dish soap, and water to create a mini-volcanic eruption.

Materials: Small bottle, baking soda, vinegar, dish soap, food colouring (optional), tray.

Procedure: Place the bottle on a tray. Fill it with baking soda, a few drops of dish soap, and food colouring. Pour in the vinegar and watch the eruption!

5. Rainbow Milk Art:

Blend art and science in the rainbow milk experiment. Using milk, food colouring, and dish soap, your children can explore the principles of surface tension and create beautiful, swirling colour patterns.

Materials: Plate, milk, food colouring, dish soap, cotton swab.

Procedure: Pour milk onto a plate. Add drops of different food colouring. Dip the cotton swab in dish soap and touch it to the milk’s surface. Watch the colours swirl and dance!

6. Edible Rock Candy:

Introduce your kids to the process of saturation and crystallization with a sweet treat – edible rock candy. Watch the formation of sugar crystals over a week and enjoy the delicious result!

Materials: Sugar, water, stick or string, clothespin, glass jar.

Procedure: Make a saturated sugar solution by heating water and dissolve as much sugar as possible. Pour into a jar, leaving some space at the top. Attach the stick/string to a clothespin and dangle it into the solution without touching the sides. Leave for about a week to see crystals form.

7. Simple Machines:

Make physics fun by building simple machines at home. Create levers and pulleys using household items and understand the concept of mechanical advantage.

Materials: Household items like rulers, string and spoons.

Procedure: Use a ruler as a lever by lifting objects with varying force. Create a pulley using string and a rolled-up paper tube to lift objects.

8. Crystal Garden:

Bring chemistry and art together by growing a crystal garden. This experiment uses salt, warm water, and cardboard to demonstrate the process of crystallisation.

Materials: Table salt, warm water, cardboard, container.

Procedure: Dissolve salt in warm water until no more can be absorbed. Place a piece of cardboard in the container and pour the solution over it. Leave for a few days to observe crystal growth.

9. The Magic of Light:

Transform your living room into a spectacle of colours with a simple prism experiment. All you need is a glass of water and sunlight to create a beautiful spectrum of visible light.

Materials: Glass of water, sunlight, white paper.

Procedure: Position the glass of water in a sunny spot so that it casts a shadow. Place the white paper in the path of the refracted sunlight to observe the spectrum of visible light.

10. Make Your Own Barometer:

Conclude your scientific journey with a homemade barometer to understand atmospheric pressure. Watch how the simple device measures changes in atmospheric pressure with shifts in the UK’s weather.

Materials: Glass jar, balloon, rubber band, straw, index card.

Procedure: Cut the balloon’s neck and stretch it over the jar’s mouth. Secure with a rubber band. Attach the straw horizontally with the rubber band, ensuring one end is hanging over the edge of the jar. Place the index card behind the straw and mark daily straw movements to note pressure changes.

ClassTutor’s Online Summer Science Classes:
Complement your at-home science adventures with ClassTutor’s online summer science classes. Offering interactive lessons across various scientific disciplines, these courses promise a well-rounded and immersive learning experience.

Summer is the perfect time for exploration and learning. These interactive experiments, paired with ClassTutor’s online science classes, ensure that your child’s summer break is filled with fun, discovery, and knowledge enrichment. Learning science has never been more exciting!

Talha Ghannam

Founding Partner

As the school bell rings for the last time in the academic year and summer rolls in, it’s not just the prospect of sunshine and outdoor activities that should excite us.

The summer holidays present an ideal opportunity to keep our children engaged in learning, challenging the traditional view that it should be a complete break from school.

This balance between relaxation and continued intellectual stimulation is crucial to prevent what educators refer to as the ‘summer slide’.

What is the Summer Slide?

The ‘summer slide’ is a term used to describe the learning loss that students typically experience over the summer holidays.

It’s estimated that students can lose between 1-2 months’ worth of learning during this period, affecting their academic abilities and long-term educational success.

The summer slide isn’t just a slight dip in recent knowledge either; it can significantly impact a student’s progression, especially in core subjects such as maths and reading.

Why is it Important to Prevent the Summer Slide

Continued engagement with learning over the summer holidays can ensure students return to school in September ready to absorb new information.

This readiness doesn’t just boost their immediate academic performance; it also contributes to their long-term success. This is particularly relevant for students attending public schools, where there’s often no mandatory provision of instruction during the summer months.

With research showing that students can lose up to two months of learning over this period, the potential effects on academic performance can be significantly detrimental.

How Can Teachers and Parents Keep Students Engaged?

Preventing the summer slide requires teachers and parents to work together to provide meaningful learning experiences during the summer break.

This not only helps students retain what they have learned over the academic year but also piques their interest in new subjects and skills.

ClassTutor’s Online Summer Classes

An excellent way to keep students engaged over the summer is through online classes. ClassTutor’s summer programmes provide a flexible and engaging approach to learning, allowing students to explore a wide range of subjects at their own pace.

The bridging classes are designed to complement what they have learned during the school year but with an added layer of exciting activities that ignite curiosity and foster creativity.

By integrating ClassTutor’s summer programme into your child’s holidays, you can turn summer learning into a fun-filled adventure.

The bridging classes are organised and led by experienced educators skilled at making learning enjoyable and meaningful. They cover a range of subjects, ensuring that there’s something for every child’s interest and ability.

Summer learning doesn’t have to be a chore. With the right approach and resources like ClassTutor, it can be a captivating journey of discovery, maintaining academic sharpness while sparking new interests.

By staying engaged with learning throughout the summer, students can avoid the summer slide, keeping their minds sharp and ensuring they are ready to hit the ground running in the new academic year.

Did you know that you can try booking a free tutoring lesson through our website? We offer one free session, per student, per subject! So why not make the most and try out where we can offer your child extra support?

If you have any questions regarding our services, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions or do not hesitate to reach out to us

Talha Ghannam

Founding Partner

Homework is a fact of life for kids, but it’s often not something that parents are so familiar with.

As a result, many parents are unsure of how to help their kids with homework and what to expect from teachers.

Here are some tips on how you can help your child succeed at school:

Let Your Child Do the Work

As your child begins to work on their homework, you must let them do the work themselves.

It will teach them how to learn from their mistakes and help build confidence in their abilities as they tackle new challenges. However, you should still check over their work to make sure that they have completed all of the steps correctly and understand what they are doing.

If there are any problems or questions about what needs to be done next, help guide the process by asking questions about why certain steps were taken or how those decisions were made instead of simply doing the work for them (this can hinder learning).

If your child gets stuck on something while completing a project or assignment, try giving them some guidance as opposed to just telling them exactly what step-by-step instructions should be followed next, this will encourage critical thinking skills!

A good rule of thumb is if something doesn’t work out right away then don’t be afraid to ask someone else who has experience doing similar projects before trying again yourself, this could mean talking with another parent or teacher who may know more than either one of us alone does!

Give Praise and Rewards

Rewards can be given for any level of achievement, from a simple task completed to an outstanding performance.

The reward should be given immediately after the task is completed, and should not be tied to grades or other external factors. For example, if your child gets an A on their math test but doesn’t receive praise because he failed another subject in school, then praise him when he gets home instead.

You should also avoid giving rewards too often so they don’t lose their impact!

Stay involved without hovering

Ask questions to make sure your child understands the material and can answer your questions about it.

If you’re not comfortable asking the teacher for help, consider asking a tutor or another parent who has experience with the subject matter (and whom your child respects).

Don’t do their homework for them! The point is to teach them how to solve problems on their own so they are prepared when they go off into the world as adults who can pay bills and cook dinner without having their parents look over their shoulders every step of the way.

Get to know the teacher and other parents

If your child is struggling with homework, it can be helpful for you to know what kinds of assignments are being given out in class.

Not only will this give you an idea of what types of homework problems might appear on exams, but it also makes it easier for you to help your child if they come home with questions about particular assignments.

In addition, getting acquainted with other parents can provide opportunities for talking about how they’re helping their children with schoolwork or seeking advice on how best to approach certain topics at home.

Understand the basics of the subject yourself

Before you can help your child with homework, you must understand the basics of the subject yourself. You’ll be much better equipped to answer their questions and direct them to resources when necessary if you have a solid grasp of what they’re learning.

Teach your kids how to learn

There are many different methods for learning, some people prefer reading books or listening to lectures while others prefer hands-on activities like building models or playing video games, but regardless of which method works best for each student, all children should learn how to ask questions and find information to make sense of concepts at their own pace.

For more information on learning styles, check out our recent blog post.

Teach your kids how ask questions

Asking questions is an invaluable skill because well-informed students tend not only to do better on tests but also develop a deeper understanding of any given topic than those who don’t actively seek answers beyond what’s provided by teachers or textbooks (and sometimes even these sources aren’t enough).

Even if there isn’t an obvious answer available right away, or ever, it’s still worth asking why something happens rather than simply accepting whatever assumption has been passed down through generations without question.

There are a lot of ways parents can help their kids with homework

Helping your child with homework can be a challenge, but it’s also an important part of supporting their education and setting them up for success in the future.

By following these tips, you can make the process smoother and more effective for both you and your child. Remember to let your child do the work themselves, give praise and rewards for their achievements, stay involved without hovering, get to know the teacher and other parents, and understand the basics of the subject yourself.

By doing so, you’ll be giving your child the tools they need to succeed academically and in life.

Good luck!

Did you know that you can try booking a free tutoring lesson through our website? We offer one free session, per student, per subject! So why not make the most and try out where we can offer your child extra support?

If you have any questions regarding our services, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions or do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Talha Ghannam

Founding Partner