Blog
The purpose of this page is to provide valuable educational content.
Year 11 Parents Listen Up!!!!
Tuesday 4th January 2022
Is your child in year 11? Do they struggle to focus for long? Have they lost motivation with the core subjects: Maths English Science ?If your child fails their Maths or English, they will have to retake it in Year 12 and 13. I want to help as many children as I can to reach their full potential. I want to help them to achieve what they taught was impossible or out of their reach. I want to help them to achieve better results in their academic journey and go on to fulfil their dreams and aspirations. I have opened 10 new slots in my calendar this week to speak to 10 parents who want their Year 11 children to get support with…
A New Term Begins...
Saturday 4th September 2021
Congratulations to all of our Year 11 and Year 13 students who received their results in the summer holidays. Here at Achievers, we are so proud of your achievements! It's always heart-warming when parents get in touch to share your results with us, showing that hard work and determination pay off. With that certificate firmly in your hand, it's easy to forget those tricky times, when you may have felt you were floundering with your studies and falling short of your predicted grades, but now you've made it - you're ready for the next stage and can start your next steps confidently with your feet firmly grounded, knowing that you can continue to succeed along your chosen…
Preparing for... The Eleven Plus
Monday 5th July 2021
Get Ready...! If your child is in Year 5 and is planning to take the Eleven Plus Entrance Test in September, be aware of the dates and deadlines that you will need to adhere to when completing the Common Application Form (CAF) via the local authority as well as a Gloucester Grammar Test Registration Form available via the school website of your chosen grammar school. This year, the test is taking place on Saturday 11th September when your child will have only just started Year 6. Although, we all know that anything can change! Last year, due to government restrictions, the test was delayed by a month, giving pupils, their parents and their tutors extra time to prepare…
How to STUDY Effectively
Wednesday 5th May 2021
How to study effectively has to be one of the most salient aspects of school life, especially during exam time. The best advice is to spend at least the SAME amount of time reviewing your answers that you do answering the questions. Reviewing your work like this allows you to cement your understanding of 'What Went Well' (WWW) and even more importantly, engage with 'Even Better If' (EBI). I know there's the temptation to just look at the mark and feel elated if you've done well and deflated if you've fallen short of your target grade, but engaging with your teacher's advice has to be your starting point. Review your achievement. Ask yourself, 'What do…
World Poetry Day
Friday 19th March 2021
This is a day to inspire the celebration of poetry all over the world, encouraging reading, writing, and teaching. With all of the exam furore at the moment, and pupils working hard to ensure they will be awarded the grade they deserve, let's take a moment to celebrate something nostalgic - Poetry! It's World Poetry Day on Sunday 21st March. Poetry is not just for aesthetes! Every one of us has a favourite verse from their childhood, even if you have lost touch with poetry as you have grown up. It's often because of the rhythm and the rhyme scheme, which so easily trips off the tongue, that some verses stay in our memory for life. …
REVISION!
Thursday 18th February 2021
With half term here, many parents are asking their children if they have any homework to complete, only to be met with the answer, 'Nope, just revision...'! Of course, revision is homework. But if the homework isn't guided, then it can be challenging to tackle. At schools, students are given clear strategies on exactly how to revise, but these can get swept under the carpet when coupled with the pressure of exams - even more so in these times where students in Years 11 and 13 are now being dubbed 'the lost generation'. How best to learn has increasingly been the focus of academic study, and however much we love to see our pupils highlighting key words, simply…
Welcome to 2021!
Friday 15th January 2021
Happy new year from everyone at Achievers Tutoring! At the start of this new year, it was again announced that GCSE and A' Level exams were being cancelled as we entered another national lockdown. For some this has been alarming and destabilizing, and perhaps even expected by others. However, what does continue to be heart-warming is the unifying concern we all have for our young people, as we work to navigate a successful path for our exam students despite this pandemic. Recent announcements are suggesting that whilst some exams may be scrapped with results based on teacher assessments, the core subjects - maths, science and English - will still be formally assessed in schools, albeit very differently. …
Season’s Greetings!
Thursday 24th December 2020
Now that schools have broken up for the Christmas holiday, it's that time of year where here at Achiever's Tutoring we can look back at all we have achieved with pride, despite some quite challenging circumstances. Whilst last term was another term filled with the restrictions of dealing with Covid - with self-isolation and social distancing in place - we still have plenty to celebrate. We were absolutely thrilled with the successes of our 11+ students. It's so rewarding when parents get in touch with the results. We were privileged to have worked with some fantastic pupils this year, and it's always a joy to see hard work, spirit and determination pay off. Achieving personal goals, especially…
The POWER of READING!
Sunday 29th November 2020
To quote Dr. Seuss, "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." Yes, this says it all: reading is the key to success! Evidence form The National Centre for Educational Statistics agrees with Dr. Seuss: "Research consistently shows strong correlation to reading and academic success at all ages." The Department for Education support this too, but with a significant shift in focus, bringing enjoyment to the spotlight: 'Evidence suggests that reading for pleasure leads to increased attainment.' So, there we have it: reading is the key to success! However, this doesn't change the fact that there are a lot of reluctant readers out there. For…
Is Online Tutoring for Your Child? ...Yes!
Monday 26th October 2020
Before lockdown I would never have considered offering online tuition, so would not have dreamt of recommending it. I had only experienced classroom, small group and one-to-one teaching - all face to face. But, with the social distancing restrictions in place and with parents finding it increasingly challenging to home-school during lockdown, the demand became such that I just had to give online tutoring a go! And I am so glad that I did. There is still time in my schedule for tuition in person, but I have definitely embraced tutoring online - and it's refreshing to be mask or visor free! Be it with Zoom, Skype, Google Hangouts or Microsoft Teams, online tutoring is just so…
Preparing for The ELEVEN PLUS Entrance Exam
Tuesday 15th September 2020
I'm sure everyone breathed a sigh of relief when Gloucestershire Grammar Schools announced that this year's entrance test was being delayed until Saturday 17th October. With students having an extra five weeks to prepare, here at Achievers we have been busier than ever tutoring our students and instilling them with the confidence they need to do their very best on exam day. Good luck to all of our current Y6 pupils in the final push leading up to the exam! What is The Eleven Plus? The Eleven Plus Entrance Exam is the selective entrance test that Y6 pupils can sit in order to apply for a place at a grammar school. It tests pupils' ability in English, maths, verbal…
Results Day is on its Way...
Wednesday 19th August 2020
Congratulations (or commiserations...) to all of the GCSE students due to receive their results on Thursday! There are probably plenty of pupils out there wishing their marks had been awarded to them without actually sitting the exam. But we have to remember just how much this unprecedented state of affairs has thrown many of our young people. Remember, students were expecting to have another two months of guided study before considering themselves properly prepared to sit their GCSEs. It has been an unusual time to say the least, and there will be students out there questioning their results: whether or not they are a fair representation of their true abilities; whether or not their results are…
Is My Child Falling Behind?
Friday 3rd July 2020
Normally, if a pupil is underachieving at school, we blame a host of reasons - from online distractions, to relationship issues and the dreaded ... hormones! Most secondary pupils now expect to be equipped with a mobile phone (thanks Bank of Mum and Dad). And, with the rise of online platforms and gaming, being a constant and active part of social media takes priority for many young people, with plenty seeing this as the gateway to making money. Online activities can become an intense preoccupation, and that's before we even consider the potential pitfalls of being open to trolling. Dealing with relationships is par for the course for young people trying to navigate their own path…
Why SUCCESS in Core Subjects (English, maths and science) is so Important
Thursday 4th June 2020
Whether your child is home-schooled, about to return to school soon, or still in the throes of lockdown-learning, success in English, maths and science is at the heart of the national curriculum and what we do at Achievers Tutoring. There is a reason that English, maths and science are compulsory throughout each Key Stage: they provide us all with the foundations for life! Most places of further education will consider results in at least 5 GCSEs - including the three core subjects - before admitting pupils to their chosen course. And it goes without saying, the higher achieving the establishment, the more discerning they can afford to be. Employers too will look to these exam results…
Schools Closed due to COVID-19 – Is Homeschooling Possible in the Midst of this Global Chaos?
Friday 3rd April 2020
Ever since COVID-19 began wreaking havoc all over the world since late January 2020, the world has come to a standstill with schools and other educational institutes resorting to the internet to continue their 11+ tutoring activities. In the plight of uncertainty, fear, and endangerment, many have come together to agree on one thing that has been disputed for quite some time: working/studying online has always been feasible despite some people's opposition before the world was hit by COVID-19. Finally, schools, parents and students have collectively agreed that pursuing education via online tutoring channels, such as Achievers Tutoring, has always been available and workable. They are also now realizing that primary school maths tutoring does not have to require conventional…
GCSE Maths & English Revision Booster
Monday 17th February 2020
Our talented and experienced tutors are organising revision sessions to help Year 11 students to maximise their full potential. This is the best time to start doing intensive revision for a better result. We are here to provide the best tuition possible to ensure that you get the results you deserve. At Achievers , our tutors are very experienced- with some as examiners -so we know the assessment process inside out and are able to provide the required support. Places are limited so ACT NOW to avoid disappointment. Do not leave it too late. It is possible to make changes and be better prepared. Click on the link below to take your first step towards GCSE exams success for a…
Free 11+ Initial Assessment
Tuesday 28th January 2020
Achievers Tutoring is offering a free 11+ Initial Assessment for parents who want to find out if their children could benefit from a Grammar School education. We will offer you our honest opinion based on how well your child performs on the Initial assessment. After the assessment, If you would like us to tutor your child, then we will be happy to help. We provide a tutoring service in the comfort of your home. The earlier you start preparing your child for the 11+ test, the better. This is a Valentine gift offer and places are limited, so act now.
Fantastic 11+ result!!!
Friday 15th November 2019
''Dennis tutored my son on a 1:1 basis, to help and prepare him for the 11+ exam. He was friendly, approachable and made my son feel confident in his abilities. All in the comfort of our own home! We have just had the 11+ results and my son met the qualifying criteria for 2 Grammar Schools; Crypt and Marling. Thank you Dennis and Achievers Tutoring!''- Cheryl, Gloucester. We are taking on new students so please get in touch should you require our services. We would be delighted to be able to serve you and help your child to get admission into one of the prestigious grammar schools in Gloucestershire County. Remember, the earlier you start, the better.
11 Plus (11+) Success Tips for Parents
Tuesday 20th August 2019
Dennis
Getting your children through the 11+ exam successfully can be priceless. However, many parents who happen to reside in local authorities who have grammar schools would like their children to give it a go, but often are not sure where to begin. Demand for places in grammar school are very high and available places are limited. It is very competitive and hence important for parents to have a clear direction as how best to proceed to ensure that their children secure a place for their 'golden ticket' when places are allocated. After many years' experience of preparing students for 11+ exams, I have decided to put together tips which I believe will maximise your child's success during the 11 Plus…
Fantastic Eleven Plus (11+) Results!!!!
Monday 15th October 2018
The 11+ results were released for students in Gloucestershire County over the weekend and at Achievers Tutoring, is all smiles. Our students have passed the 11+ exams enabling them to gain admission to the top Grammar School across Gloucestershire County. Notably among them was a boy who joined as in August, 3 weeks before the 11+ exams. The parents were not sure if he could make it so one of our experienced tutors accessed the student and promised the parents that we could work with him and get him to pass the exams. The tutor had ONLY 14 lessons with this boy and when the results were released over the weekend, this boy PASSED the 11+ exams. The parents…
Amazing GCSE Results!!!
Thursday 23rd August 2018
What an amazing day!!! GCSE results are in today and at Achievers it's all smiles as our students have exceeded their predicted grades which is remarkable. One of our students was predicted grade 3 in Maths but she came out with grade 6!!!! Also, another student who before joining Achievers was really struggling with her Maths to the point that she feared she was going to fail but guess what she got grade 5.!!! I'm very proud of my students. At Achievers we believe that students can achieve their full potential with the right guidance and support irrespective of their starting point and these results are testament to our ethos. If your child is struggling in school in Maths, English…
Abstract to Maths Mastery- Unlocking children full potential in Maths
Wednesday 20th June 2018
Maths is such an important subject as it is used every day life. We use money, tell the time, cover distance when walking, measure amount of ingredients needed to cook a meal. Yet Maths continues to be the problem most students face in their school life in UK. Why is UK with all the facilities and resources not doing so well in Maths? How can we as a nation improve our maths ability? The UK's lack of mathematics ability is exposed in the International Programme for Student Assessment (PISA) rankings in 2015. The UK not only lagging behind top performers such as Singapore and Finland, but also trails Vietnam, Poland and Estonia. In maths, the UK is ranked 27th, slipping…
