Achievers Tutoring

Year 11 Parents listen up!!
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 wants their Year 11 children to get support with their learning.
Achievers Tutoring is organising massive GCSE Grade Booster Sessions to help students prepare for the upcoming GCSEs.
We are taking on 10 new Year 11 students who require ambitious and passionate tutors to help them achieve their full potential. We are providing students with tutors who have a proven track record of raising standards. If your child works with us, they will have a higher chance of achieving or exceeding their target grade. If you want your child to boost their GCSE maths, English or Science grade, then please contact us. Places are limited so *act now* to secure your child's place.

[valid 04/01/2022 - 31/01/2022]
Click the link below to request a tutor
https://www.achieverstutoring.org.uk/request-a-tutor

A New Term Begins...

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 path.
Some pupils need that extra bit of support to build their confidence. The key is not to be afraid to ask for help when you need it. In class - or out of class – it's okay to ask for help, and to keep asking if you just don’t get it. We all learn differently and sometimes it can take time for the penny to drop! It’s important to remember that you are not alone. Parents, teachers and tutors are all here, to help you. And don’t forget to chat to your class mates too – talking about a challenge is the first step to conquering it.
There’s been lots of excitement and anticipation in the air as the fresh-faced Year 7s have started at their new schools this week. It won’t take long for you to adjust to your surroundings and become familiar with your new territory. Although it may feel like quite a long time ago that students took their entrance exam, our Eleven Plus success stories are finally being realised! Hang on to that excitement as you navigate your way through Year 7 and begin a whole new academic journey. And, don’t forget, if you do find yourself needing that extra bit of support, reach out - ask for help.
This year’s Eleven Plus students only have a week to go until the exam...! It might be a little nail-biting, but there’s still time to tackle a practice exam paper or two before the real thing. Being familiar with the format of the tests will certainly build confidence. As we wind up with the Year 6s, here at Achievers, we’ll soon be taking on Y5s who are keen to prepare for their entrance exam next year when they move up into Year 6. Start preparing for success well in advance to ensure you achieve your goals. Remember, it’s always okay to ask for help.

https://www.11plusguide.com/exam-papers-books-grammar-school-region/gloucestershire-11-plus/

You’re not alone - Achievers Tutoring are experts when it comes to active learning. If you need a push in the right direction, we’re here for you. Give your parents a nudge to get in touch with Dennis who can find just the right tutor for your needs. Everyone needs that extra bit of support from time to time, right? Together, we’ve got this!
Click on the link below to request a tutor.
https://www.achieverstutoring.org.uk/request-a-tutor

Preparing for...The Eleven Plus
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 and make sure they really were exam-ready.
What Next?
With the seven Gloucester grammar schools using the same CEM (Centre of Evaluation & Monitoring) test paper, it’s time to start preparing your child for the exam by looking carefully at what is involved in the test papers. Using the familiarisation materials available on the school’s website is a really good starting place. Just feeling comfortable with the format of the papers and how they are organised will help to reduce some of the anxiety which your child is bound to feel in the run-up to the big day.
Your child will sit two multiple choice tests – each under an hour and split up into sections. Focusing on maths and English, each paper will test their comprehension, verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. Going over past papers will help your child to understand what the exam is asking of them. To keep up the impetus, it might be a good idea to create an Eleven Plus Preparation Timetable to ensure that they are well-prepared for what is ahead and to maximise the score they ultimately achieve. Of course, sticking to this is key!
‘Practice makes perfect’, and if motivation is wavering, why not get a tutor involved too? Building confidence and making sure that your child is proficient in the areas they are being tested on, and that they are as well-equipped as they can be, sometimes means getting outside help for additional sessions. With a skills-based approach, your tutor can guide your child through any sticky areas and identify targets which will help them to navigate their way towards success. Time management is an important part of the process too. So, repeated, timed practice broken down into manageable chunks should become part of your child’s weekly preparation.
..Results
After you receive your child’s results, there is then the wait for the local authority to send out official place allocations which you will receive in March 2022. And, if your child doesn’t achieve the result they were hoping for, there is always the appeals process, waiting lists or even seeking admission in subsequent years if places allow, where your child may be able to sit an internal exam at the school of their choice.

Be Prepared!
If you are looking for that extra bit of support for your child in the run-up to the Eleven Plus, get in touch with Achievers Tutoring. Last year, a high proportion of our students passed the exam, securing places at some of the best schools that Gloucestershire has to offer. We are so proud of their achievements: their determination, their stickability and their drive to be the best they can. Every parent wants their child to have the best chance at passing the exam. Every parent wants their child to be part of a school that they can be really proud of, giving them a great start to their academic future. Every parent wants their child to be prepared for the Eleven Plus! Together, we’ve got this!
Click on the link below to request a tutor
Request a Tutor | Achievers Tutoring | Maths Tutors in Gloucestershire | Tutors in Gloucestershire

How to STUDY Effectively

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 I need to do to improve?’
When you’re studying privately, first things first: ditch the digital distractions! Don’t multi-task! Focus on one thing at a time for effective study. The attention span of a 16-year-old, on average, is around 32 – 38 minutes. It’s a case of little and OFTEN. It’s wise to take sensibly timed breaks. You really want to be as productive as possible during this valuable window of concentration, so make Instagram, YouTube or Facebook your reward for working productively. You can message your friends when you know that you’ve put the right amount of energy and focus into being the student that you really want to be.
Effective study means engaging in active learning (not just re-reading notes). Active learning builds understanding. Start by paraphrasing your learning. Can you coherently explain the concept to someone who knows nothing about the topic? This may well be your parents or siblings, so use them! Write a study guide by topic. Formulate questions and problems and compose complete answers. Create a concept map or diagram which explains the material. Quiz yourself. Make flashcards and use these to review topics in subsequent study sessions. Take note of the ones which you find tricky and review these more often. Consider the different type of questions that you’ll be expected to answer. Read exemplars. Test yourself. Write your response in timed conditions and afterwards review exactly what you can do by yourself. This will help you to pinpoint what you actually know and what you still need to spend time getting to know. Every time a memory is retrieved, that memory becomes more accessible in the future.
Remember, effective study means reviewing work, ditching distractions, spacing practice and actively engaging in learning strategies.
You’re not alone - Achievers Tutoring are experts when it comes to active learning. If you need a push in the right direction, we’re here for you. Give your parents a nudge to get in touch with Dennis who can find just the right tutor for your needs. Everyone needs that extra bit of support from time to time, right? Together, we’ve got this!

https://www.achieverstutoring.org.uk/request-a-tutor

World Poetry Day
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. From nonsense verse like Spike Milligan's ‘On the Ning Nang Nong’ or Edward Lear’s ‘The Owl and the P***y Cat’, to poems popularised on the box, like Pam Ayre’s ‘Oh I Wish I’d Looked After Me Teeth’ or Victoria Wood’s ‘The Ballad of Barry and Freda (Let’s Do It)’, everyone has a verse they can recite. And with them, memories come flooding back.
Is your teen struggling with their English Poetry Anthology, or still finding their feet preparing for the unseen poetry paper? Remind them of some rhymes they knew and enjoyed when they were younger and less bogged down by the pressures of study. Poetry is to be read aloud, listened to and enjoyed, and while the English syllabus’ anthologies are certainly something of a challenge, it’s one worth rising to. Seeing language used sparingly to evoke emotions is a skill to be admired - so let’s hear it for poetry!
Let’s support our Year 11s as they navigate their way through Percy Shelley’s ‘Ozymandias’, Seamus Heaney’s ‘Storm on the Island’ and Imtiaz Dharker’s ‘Tissue’... They may seem like a world away from the fun rhymes and ditties we enjoyed growing up, but when understood, they too are a joy to behold. Let’s mark World Poetry Day and inspire the celebration of poetry in our homes, as well as our schools. Get in touch with Achievers Tutoring if your teen needs help igniting an appreciation of poetry and getting to grips with their studies.
Click the link below to request a tutor.
Request a Tutor | Achievers Tutoring | Maths Tutors in Gloucestershire | Tutors in Gloucestershire

REVISION!

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 re-reading notes and making things colourful has little effect on memory according to academics. Rather, it’s testing yourself (or having your folks test you) and having significant gaps between revision time too, that are the most effective methods (hence why cramming is deemed so ineffective – despite it seeming to be the most popular tool for revision).

Get involved with your child’s revision programme. Make sure they are taking control and organising their time wisely. See how you can help them test themselves and prepare for the key exams which they will be sitting this year:
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/jan/08/five-secrets-of-successful-revising
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22565912

Of course, we are here to help too! Here at Achievers Tutoring, we can also work with your child to revisit topics where they have gaps and get them exam-ready. Getting a tutor on board does not need to be a lengthy commitment either. With the run up to exams, gaining confidence in those vital months prior to the big day can make all the difference in those tricky subject areas.
Click the link below to request a tutor.
https://www.achieverstutoring.org.uk/request-a-tutor

Welcome to 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. Whatever decisions are finally reached, the message for our young people is to continue to work hard. There is talk of mini exams on the horizon to aid the grading process in schools:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-55641364
Students, treat online learning just as you would if you were attending school and put time and effort into your studies; a focused approach now WILL benefit your final result. This term is more important than ever. Knowing your personal targets and understanding what you need to do to improve is vital – there IS still time to improve your grade. So, do you know your targets? Do you know how to improve in your weaker areas? Do you have the confidence to approach your teachers for advice? The answer to these questions has to be yes! If not, now is the time to act. Make a difference to your grade.
You are not on your own, and remember, your hard work to date has definitely not been wasted, keep talking, keep questioning and keep going...!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-55548619

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zvryp4j
Parents, check out the link above to BBC Bitesize which has plenty to offer your teenager with lockdown learning. There is help out there. If you are concerned that your teenager needs a confidence boost at this vital time and would benefit from a guided and personal approach, do not hesitate to get in touch with Achievers Tutoring and enquire about our online tutoring.
We are all in this together. Let’s support our young people towards the future they deserve!

Click the link below to request a tutor.
https://www.achieverstutoring.org.uk/request-a-tutor

Season’s Greetings!
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 for ones so young, means it’s time to celebrate!
Our hard-working Y10 and Y11 pupils have been busy preparing for internal exams, and some still have their mocks to look forward to in January. For Y11, the big push will begin next year: cementing knowledge, honing exam technique and writing under timed conditions is key. There may well be some amendments to exams (in light of the current pandemic) but these exams will be as tough as ever! If your child is having a bit of a wobble and you think that they need some extra support to get back on track, do not hesitate to look for support. Just an hour of tuition a week can provide a much-needed confidence boost by revisiting tricky topics and clearly establishing exactly what the exam requires.
However, we all deserve a little break, and time to recharge. No doubt, the usual Christmas films will be on TV helping to create that festive spirit – The Snowman, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Polar Express, The Grinch... And, sometimes, seeing a movie inspires us to read the original. A favourite classic has to be C. S. Lewis’ The Lion the Witch & the Wardrobe, where in Narnia it is ‘always winter, but never Christmas’; not to be out-done by A Christmas Carol, where finally Scrooge is brought to say ‘I will honour Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all year’. Uplifting, redemption stories like these help us to realise there is opportunity to change, to seek help and get on track. This is where Achiever’s Tutoring might just be for you. If your child needs to make a change and aim for their best ever result in next year’s exams, we can help.
Achiever’s Tutoring wishes all of our students and parents a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year!
Click the link below to request a tutor.
https://www.achieverstutoring.org.uk/request-a-tutor

The POWER of READING!

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 whatever reason, books aren’t high on their priority list and many young learners would much rather be spending time doing something else. Yet, if developing the skill of reading in turn affects a child’s cognitive development and life-long success, surely it should be one of our main priorities when helping our children begin a long-lasting learning journey. Establishing a deep-rooted reading habit at home – not just in school - has to be at the heart of raising intellectually curious children heading for success.
‘He doesn’t like reading’ or ‘she’s not really much of a reader’ is no excuse to stop promoting reading at home – don't give up folks! If we want reading to be a habit, we absolutely must be determined, because we know what a huge challenge it can be for some learners. It is a skill we must hone, this takes practice, perseverance and plenty of encouragement, and not just in those early days. If we provide our children with lots of different reading experiences and expose them to different genres and authors, as they continue to grow up, they will eventually come across something which piques their interest. It’s this spark which can ignite the flame which makes reading a passion (rather than a chore!). If home promotes reading as entertainment - which most do in the early years, with the much-loved bedtime story ritual – then, in the eyes of our young learners, books begin to take on value. Modelling reading at home and championing the cause will reap rewards! At the same time, it’s not just reading which will improve, so will concentration and stickability to stay on course, journeying to success.
Whilst our ultimate aim is to empower our children’s progress by getting them to read for pleasure, along the way, they will be doing so much more than just developing their comprehension skills or finding answers in a passage. Reading is key to developing empathy, inference, decoding skills, visualising, predicting, making connections, questioning and independent research. We want our children to have inquisitive minds. And, it’s not just about acquiring knowledge. Reading is also escapism. As Dr. Seuss says, “Reading can take you to places you have never been before.” In a world where problems can seem overwhelming, reading can transport us beyond our current situation, into another place, another time, another world entirely! Children need to escape as much as adults, and our imagination is often the perfect place to retreat to. Reading is its own reward.
With Christmas on the way, if you’re stuck for ideas and are looking for some stocking fillers, visit links below for some inspiration. In this current climate, where lockdown leaves us with some time on our hands, we can all make time to pick up a book. Dr. Seuss wants us to make books available, so come on folks - "Fill your house with books, in all the crannies and all the nooks”!
Links to book lists for primary, secondary and reluctant readers:
https://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/genre/rel/Reluctant-Readers.html
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/6489.Books_Every_Teen_Should_Read
The Benefits of Reading for Pleasure:
• literacy: reading attainment and writing ability
• text comprehension and grammar
• spelling
• breadth of vocabulary – lexical richness
• positive reading attitudes
• greater self-confidence as a reader
• general knowledge
• a better understanding of other cultures
• community participation
• a greater insight into human nature and decision-making

“You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax, all you need is a book.”
Dr. Seuss

At Achievers Tutoring, we actively teach reading strategies which promote the value and enjoyment of reading, not just to pass exams (and pass them with pride!), but to inculcate reading for pleasure – a life skill, and the key to success!
Click the link below to request a tutor.
https://www.achieverstutoring.org.uk/request-a-tutor

Is Online Tutoring for Your Child? ...Yes!

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 workable. It takes very little time to feel comfortable with these platforms and with the accessibility of Google Documents, where you can see exactly what your student is writing and interact swiftly, in many ways, it is even more direct than face-to-face tuition where you are peering over a shoulder or across a table. What’s more, it’s safe: there are no concerns about students falling behind and missing sessions if they have to isolate, but are certainly fit enough to carry on with their daily life. Online tutoring offers the flexibility that we all need right now.

It is not only extremely personable, I actually find that it can sharpen some students’ focus. It somehow seems to cut out potential distractions. The student still has someone focusing solely on them and their needs, but it creates a slightly different dynamic. As learners, we want to feel that our needs are being met, that our questions are being answered directly, and online sessions do seem to empower students to speak up. The spotlight is literally on them. Perhaps there’s something to be said for seeing yourself on screen as you engage with your tutor, being pushed to take full accountability for how you connect and collaborate during your learning time. I think when parents are hovering in the background it is even better! Students know that this is their time to learn with the security of parents being there (if anything goes wrong with the technology) whilst they have their tutor’s undivided attention. Isn’t that what all learners want? Especially when they have been struggling to grasp something new.

If you do decide to go down the online route, it also means that you have access to specialists from further afield and having a greater choice may well provide you with the best fit for a student’s needs. I have been teaching students from different counties in the UK and as far afield as Shanghai! Whilst students are still learning in the comfort of their own private space, it can also reduce the subtle pressures they may feel when meeting face-to-face. It gives parents choice and enables you to secure a good fit for your child. And we all know that when people are happy and feel comfortable, they are more able to learn.

At Achievers Tutoring, online tuition has really taken off! So, embrace modernity like we have, and use the technology you have at your fingers-tips to your advantage. Whether you are based in Gloucestershire, elsewhere in the UK, or are an international student studying abroad, we are here to serve you. Tutors are DBS checked, highly qualified educators who understand how to prepare your child for the demands of 11+, GCSE and A’ Level examinations. Click the link below to request a tutor.
https://www.achieverstutoring.org.uk/request-a-tutor