A Level and GCSE students have now received their exam results, which means we’re edging closer to the end of August and closer to schools reopening in early September. Whilst parents and carers may still be busy putting name labels in new uniform, dusting off the lunch boxes and preparing for the chaos of the school run, there’s plenty students should be doing to get ready, too.
Whether you’re excited to start a new academic year, or you’re wondering where the summer actually went, being prepared to get back to school can make a huge difference in not only how you feel about going back, but also how you perform. Here at Tutorspot we asked some of our GCSE Tutors, as well as some of our A Level tutors to pull together a selection of their top tips to ensure your new school year gets off to the best possible start.
One of the best things about being off school is the opportunity to have a lie-in. Not having to get up early or rush out the door is almost too good to be true, so it makes sense to take advantage of it for as long as possible.
However, with the realisation that you don’t have to get up comes the desire to stay up later. Before you know it, you’re going to bed at 2am and getting up after lunch. Whilst parents and teachers may have their own thoughts about that, the reality is going back to the early morning routine is going to be a huge shock to your system if you leave it until the last minute.
With less than a a week left before that alarm clock rings at early o’clock, now’s the time to start making some incremental changes. Go to bed 15 minutes earlier every night until you reach your ideal bedtime. Equally, set the alarm 15 minutes earlier to start dragging yourself back into a more normal school-based routine.
It might not appeal right now, but trust us, you’ll be grateful come 5th September!
When you start a journey, it makes sense to make a plan. You think about what you might need to pack, you work out where you’re going and research the best way to get there. It’s true, you may be able to wing it (and you might even have more fun travelling that unknown path), but to save yourself stress and the loss of time, planning makes sense.
The new school year is no different. Our online tutors for the most popular subjects, including physics and maths tutors, science tutors & GCSE Biology Tutors all advise taking the time to think about what it is you really want to achieve this academic year. It doesn’t matter whether it’s your first year of High School, or your last – there’s always something you could be focussing on.
Do you want to get better grades? Are you hoping to move up a set? Do you want to improve your handwriting, or become more organised? Perhaps you want to spend more time doing extracurricular activities such as dance or music. Knowing what you want to do will ensure you’re one step closer to achieving it.
If you’re hoping to make academic progress this year, then it may be worth speaking to a personal tutor. Whether you’re looking for a GCSE Physics Tutor, online maths tutor, Chemistry tutors or help with biology tutoring, there are so many options out there to ensure you get the support your need.
A GCSE Chemistry tutor, for example, will be able to help you make sense of concepts you’ve already studied, to ensure you fully understand them and can use them once you get back into the classroom or laboratory. The summer holidays are a long break, even if it doesn’t seem like it by the end, and this means there’s always a chance that important information is lost.
Not studying for six or seven weeks is undoubtedly going to mean that some of the knowledge you were taught in the previous year has long gone out the window. Admittedly, it won’t take too long to get it back, but if you start working with a personal tutor now, then that process will already be underway long before you have to attend registration.
Another benefit of working with an online tutor is they can help you throughout the school year. This means that any time you have one of those moments where you’re just not getting what your teacher is trying to explain, you don’t have to be frustrated on your own. A tutor will work at your pace, rather than trying to push through a curriculum in a particular time frame. This means they have the time and opportunity to really make sure you understand everything you need to before moving on.
Whether you’re transitioning from primary school to high school, or have moved school for another reason, the start of September is bound to fill you with even more emotions than usual.
One of the most important things you can do is plan your route to school to make sure there won’t be any hidden surprises you have to contend with on day one. If you’re walking, make sure you know how long it’s likely to take you – take the opportunity to scope out any shortcuts (as long as they’re safe, of course).
If you’re reliant on public transport, check out the timetables, and be sure you know which buses/trains you need to take if you’re making changes. Which stops do you need to get on or off at? Have you got your tickets booked in advance?
The return to school doesn’t need to fill you with dread – it can be the start of something wonderful and exciting. All you have to have is the right mental attitude and approach.
For more advice regarding returning to school and how online tutoring can help you, please contact us via info@tutorspot.co.uk or text or call us on 07480637128.
