JCT Learning Hub

05/08/2026

Calling local Home Ed families! 📚🔢

As a home ed mum myself, I know how important it is to find practical, engaging, and supportive learning opportunities for our young people.

I’m looking to set up a face-to-face Functional Skills Maths group in Dorchester, starting this September!

Calculators out! This group is specially designed for teens (approx. ages 13–16 / KS3–KS4 level) who are looking for a practical, low-stress alternative or stepping stone to GCSE Maths.

We’ll focus on real-world maths skills designed to build confidence and help students work toward formal Functional Skills qualifications (Entry Level 3 through Level 2) in a relaxed, small-group environment.

📍 Potential Location: Durnovaria Band Hall, Dorchester
📅 Start Date: September 2026

Before finalising times and details, I’d love to gauge interest from the local home education community:

Would your young person be interested in joining a group like this?

What days or times of week usually work best for your schedule?

Drop a comment below or send me a direct message if you'd be interested or have any questions! Feel free to tag anyone who might be looking for maths support this coming term. 😊

You can also complete my form which is in the comments below to let me know you're interested 😃

05/08/2026

I'm happy to introduce the newest member of the JCT Learning Hub tutor team, Xuxin! 📣😀

✅Xuxin is an experienced tutor, having tutored maths since 2013. She has a degree in Maths and a PGCE in Secondary Maths from the Graduate School of Education at the University of Exeter. She has a PhD, which she undertook with the Environmental Mathematics Group, also at the University of Exeter.

✅As well as tutoring, she has worked as both a classroom teacher and lecturer. The students she has tutored have ranged in age from young children to adults. Most commonly, Xuxin tutors GCSE Mathematics, A-level Mathematics, and A-level Further Mathematics. She has also tutored 11+, 13+, SATs, and the STEP, MAT, TMUA, and ESAT admissions tests, as well as preparing students for competitions such as the JMC and BMO.

✅Xuxin’s lessons are closely orientated towards the individual needs of the student, and she has gained considerable experience in teaching remotely using the most effective online teaching methodologies, although she also teaches students in person. She carefully selects topics and homework tasks to develop the students’ abilities and confidence in mathematics.

👏Join us in giving Xuxin a warm welcome in the comments below! If you're looking for expert remote maths support this term, drop us a DM to check her current availability.🚀

03/08/2026

Maths Readiness: Stay Sharp for September! 🔢

Maths isn't just about formulas; it's about logic and pattern recognition. The "Summer Slide" happens when those patterns get forgotten. Keep them fresh:

Use Free Resources: Use platforms like CorbettMaths or Maths Genie to do one "5-a-day" sheet per week. It’s quick, it’s targeted, and it works.

Real-World Maths: Practice fractions, percentages, and unit conversions while you're shopping or cooking this summer. Real-life application is the best way to make the maths "stick."

Higher vs. Foundation:

Higher: Challenge yourself with "Grade 9" style algebraic manipulation questions.

Foundation: Master your times tables and mental arithmetic until they are automatic. If you don't have to think about the basics, you have more brainpower for the hard stuff!

Ready to hit the ground running in September? We have a limited number of slots for Year 11 Maths support. Send us a message today to secure your place!

Why not try out our Summer Maths Scavenger Hunt??👇👀

01/08/2026

Pre-show dinner at Wagamamas then an amazing night at Mamma Mia in Bournemouth! What a show!

31/07/2026

If you told me 6 years ago that I’d be where I am today, I probably would have laughed (or panicked a little!). 😅

Building something from scratch—whether it's learning a new skill, starting a new project, or stepping out of your comfort zone—is rarely a smooth, straight line.

There are weeks where everything clicks, and weeks where you wonder if you’re making any progress at all.

Looking at this picture, it reminds me of one simple lesson I’ve learned along the way:

Consistency always beats perfection.

You don't need to have every single step mapped out before you start. You just need to take the next small step forward.

To anyone currently working towards a big goal or taking on a new challenge right now: keep going. The momentum builds faster than you think! 🙌

💬 I'd love to know: What is one goal or project you're working on right now that you're proud of? Drop it in the comments below! 👇

29/07/2026

🎲 Think Monopoly is just about buying boardwalks and losing friendships? Think again! 🏠💰

We love a family game night in our house! A firm favourite has always been Monopoly, which we've played this evening.🎲

Behind every roll of the dice is a hidden maths lesson. Next time you sit down for a family game night, you’re actually running a stealth arithmetic session! 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Here is how Monopoly secretly builds crucial GCSE and real-world maths skills:

1️⃣ Mental Addition & Subtraction: Calculating change when paying rent or buying properties sharpens quick mental recall—no calculators allowed! ➕➖

2️⃣ Multiplication & Arrays: Figuring out rent with houses or hotel multipliers turns abstract times tables into immediate game strategy.✖️

3️⃣ Probability & Risk: Rolling two dice introduces practical probability. (What are the odds of landing on Chance or getting sent to Jail?) I went to Jail at least 3 times in tonight's game!🦹‍♀️

4️⃣ Budgeting & Money Management: Deciding whether to save cash or invest in property teaches basic financial literacy, percentages, and cash flow.💲

Maths isn't just in textbooks—it’s on the board! 💡

What’s your family’s go-to board game for a little friendly competition? Drop it in the comments below! 👇

28/07/2026

I'd like to introduce Laura Bourke, our newest addition to the JCT Learning Hub tutor team! 👇📣📣

💫 Laura is a dedicated English Literature and English Language specialist with over 19 years of experience teaching in Secondary schools, empowering students to achieve excellent GCSE results. Laura currently works in a local Dorset Secondary School where she has been in post for 8 years, holding the post of Head of English prior to her maternity leave. Laura is an examiner for AQA GCSE English Language and she has a passion for instilling a lifelong or reading and Literature in her students. 🚀

Laura focuses on concept mastery, discursive learning, cyclical retrieval and tailored support to help learners boost their grades and build confidence. Laura is happy to work with KS3 and KS4 students of all abilities, always making the learning journey personalised to each student's individual needs and desired outcomes. 📚

Welcome to the team, Laura! We are excited to be working with you!✨😀

Need English support? Contact us now to discover how Laura can help you grow in confidence and succeed in English ✅

27/07/2026

English GCSE: Don't Let Your Creative Spark Fade! ✍️
English is a muscle—if you don't exercise it, it gets rusty. Keep your literary brain active this summer with these simple, low-effort tips:

Read for Pleasure (but with a twist): Pick up one book from your course (or a similar genre). As you read, note down 3 interesting adjectives or powerful metaphors the author uses.

The "One-Paragraph" Challenge: Write a 150-word review of a film you watched or a place you visited. Use a range of sentence structures (simple, compound, complex).

Higher vs. Foundation:

Aiming for Grades 7-9: Focus on writing deeper, analytical arguments. Try to connect themes across different texts.

Aiming for Grades 4-6: Focus on structure and vocabulary. Use a thesaurus to replace "good" or "bad" with more precise words.

Want to sharpen your writing before term starts? Our September English spots are filling up fast! Comment "ENGLISH" below to save a space.

23/07/2026

"Should my Year 10 revise over the summer?" ☀️📚

If you’re wondering whether your child is quietly thinking about Year 11 preparation right now… the short answer is: probably not unless you or a tutor bring it up!

Most 15-year-olds fall into one of three mindsets over July and August:

1️⃣ The Majority: "It’s summer, absolutely not" – The majority view this as their last true break before GCSE pressure kicks in and want to completely disconnect.

2️⃣ The Organisers – High achievers or anxious students who prepare by sorting stationery, making flashcards, or doing light app-based recaps (usually in Maths or Science).

3️⃣ The Externally Motivated – They only think about revision because parents or tutors mention it, often resorting to passive studying if left on their own. 💡

What actually works without causing summer burnout?

Keep it lightweight to prevent September panic:
⏱️ 2–3 short sessions a week (30–45 mins max is plenty).

🎯 Focus on Year 10 weak spots rather than trying to jump ahead to new Year 11 topics.

📁 Get organised—sorting notes and making flashcards now saves hours during frantic November mock prep!

How is your teen approaching the summer break? Drop a comment below! 👇

22/07/2026

Thank you to San for our latest Google review ✍️
Feedback from our parents really does mean so much.

★★★★★