Don't write off science and maths!

Science and maths. They're a bit boring, aren't they? Oh, and they're quite hard. And they're just for geeks.

No, no and no! Science and maths are none of those things and, in the future, they're likely to be where the money is. There is currently a shortage of STEM (science, technology and maths) graduates out there, with demand outstripping supply. So while most graduates struggle to find work after university, or find jobs paying pitiful wages, salaries in STEM are on the up.

Economy

With the UK already lagging behind China and India in producing engineering graduates, ultimately our shortage of STEM graduates could lead to the UK losing out in the global economy. Yes, it really is that serious. Students turning away from a subject at GCSE or A Level because it's 'boring' could have a huge impact on all of us.

And for young people that don't fancy university, there's demand for people with A Levels in STEM subjects too. There's growing concern among employers about the number of students opting out of science altogether at GCSE and underachieveing in maths. So qualifications in science and maths are invaluable right now and will improve your career prospects, whatever level you reach.

GCSEs

If we've got you thinking that STEM subjects might be worth studying, you need to start off with good GCSEs in maths and sciences. An A Level in maths is then essential to get you onto a STEM degree course.

Still think they're hard? Still think they're boring? Still think they're for geeks?

Funny you should say that, because we're really good at helping students achieve their full potential in both maths and sciences. Many people believe you're either good at maths or you're not, but we don't agree! With the right tutor, maths is a subject anyone can conquer, and we've seen plenty of students surprise themselves with what they can do. Science should be fun, and we guarantee our science tutors will make chemistry, biology and physics as fascinating as possible. Our tuition is tailored to your exact needs, so we'll make sure you get the very best out of maths and science to make the grade you need.

If you'd like to know more about how we can help you with maths and science, give us a call on 01858 46 26 48.

Piling on the pressure?

Are  you worried your child won't do 'well enough' in their GCSEs, A Levels or SATs? And what is well enough? Top grades or achieving their own potential?

Tutoring is a great way to help children fulfil their own potential and gain the very best grades that they are capable of achieving. It can also give them that edge to pass the 11+ and get into grammar school - if they already have the potential to make it to a selective school.

Supports learning

Good tutoring, like the education we provide at INICIO, supports a child's own individual needs and complements what they are learning at school. It helps the child learn in the right way for them and achieve the sort of results their families should be proud of. But it shouldn't pile on the pressure.

We were saddened to read recently that some families put so much pressure on their kids' achievements at school, that tutoring completely takes over their lives. If that grammar school really is too big a leap and your child only scrapes in, maybe it's not the right choice for them. Children under constant pressure to do well, and achieve results beyond their own capabilities, will always struggle and will end up unhappy. 

Progress

Here at INICIO, we believe tutoring is useful throughout a child's education. We offer support in a friendly and caring environment, where children will feel at home. We tailor teaching around the child's individual needs. With just one lesson, of an hour and 20 minutes a week, children can make really good progress with us - whether they need a bit of help to keep up or they are high attainers pushing for top grades. It is the right choice for many families, who see it as a key part of setting their children on the right path in life. There is no shame in tutoring and wanting the best for your child, but nor is there a need to push them so hard that they have no other life at all.

At INICIO we are proud to support families and children through their education and to see the difference it makes to their confidence and achievements. 

Secrets of successful learners

Who are successful learners? Is it just the 'clever kids' who do well at school and in exams?

The good news is, it doesn't have to be. Successful learners aren't just those who are academic and the skills needed to be a successful learner aren't rocket science. They're skills many of us already have and can easily work on to improve.

Trying hard is half the battle!

Effort

• It seems obvious, but the first thing you need is effort. You get out what you put in, and if you're doing extra away from the classroom, you are likely to do better in the end.
• Next up is staying focused and on-task. Whether you're in the classroom or working at home, don't get distracted by other people and things happening around you.
• If you're a budding footballer or guitarist, you will practice and work on your skills. So too you need to work on your skills for learning - maybe your note-taking could be improved or you need to sharpen up your listening skills.
• Get involved! If you actively participate in your own learning - asking and answering questions in class and even helping others around you - the messages will be reinforced and you will retain information much better.
• Attendance! It makes sense, but you need to turn up to class, on time, to make sure you don't miss anything. If you skip half a day every week, you're missing 10% of your education. A two-week holiday in term time would mean you missing 5% of that year's work. 
• Believe in yourself! If you think you can do it and see yourself in a positive light, you will reach your goals (although, beware, the goals should be achievable - over-confidence can be just as damaging as not believing in yourself). 
• Persistence! The best learners are the resilient ones who don't give up, even when things get tough. If they make a mistake, they pick themselves up, dust themselves off and try again until they get it right. 
• A love of learning! If you see learning as a chore, a punishment or just plain boring, it will be harder to get the best out of your education. People who enjoy the journey, and the rewards of finishing a piece of work or passing an exam, will be more successful learners.

Don't panic!

If your child has all of these attributes, well done to them! They will make a real success of their education and achieve to the very best of their abilities. But if not, don't panic!

Here at INICIO we work closely with your child in a way that suits them. Our environment is relaxed and homely and we tailor our teaching to your child's individual needs. Together we can help your child to love learning and build on these essential secrets of successful learning.

The summertime slump

What is the summertime slump? Does it exist? How can you avoid it? Should you even avoid it?

Six week break

Six weeks away from school! Six weeks without books or lessons, six weeks without homework and marking. Do they affect children? Of course they do. All teachers are aware of the summertime slump and the way it affects kids as they move into their new school year. For younger children, moving into year 1 or year 2, missing out on six weeks of school is a massive chunk of their school career. It's not unusual for them to take until October half-term just to get back to where they were at the end of the last school year.

Opinion is divided as to whether the summertime slump matters. Because if it affects everyone, surely it doesn't? But, like many things in education, it doesn't affect everyone equally. Rightly or wrongly, some parents will continue to push their children hard to keep learning throughout the holidays. Other families will take their foot firmly off the pedal - and it will be those children that fall behind in September.

There have been calls to make the summer holidays shorter to reduce the effect of the summertime slump, but that opens up a whole can of worms around pricing and availability of holidays.  The likelihood is that this isn't going to happen any time soon, so it's up to you, as parents, to decide what's right for your family.

Keep up the good work!

Here at INICIO, we say why not take the middle ground? Don't turn off education completely, but don't push too hard. After all, the summer holidays are supposed to be time to take a break and recharge the batteries.  At INICIO, we're open all year round and would encourage families to keep up with their weekly lesson of an hour and 20 minutes to halt the slump. 

You can also encourage your children to keep reading - buy some new books or go to the library (many libraries do the Summer Reading Challenge for 4-11 year olds - great for getting kids enthused by books). Whether you're off on holiday or staying at home, encourage them to look at the world around them - and if they spot anything new, let them look it up on the internet and find out more. Does your school use online tools like Bug Club for reading or Mathletics for maths? Many children find these as much fun as games, but they are learning as they play. Why not encourage them to play a few times over the holidays?

Puzzle books, magazines, online games and even the right sort of television can all help towards learning. The holidays are also a great time to practise sport; a fit and healthy body helps with a fit and healthy mind.

Enjoy the break, but enjoy a bit of learning too. Happy holidays!

It's not too late!

With GCSEs and A Levels already well underway, is it too late to think about good exam technique? What if your kids haven’t done enough revision.

Revision

We say it’s never too late! By now your kids should have an idea from their first exams about whether or not they’ve done enough effective revision and will know whether they need to revise harder or differently for their remaining exams. 

Everyone learns in different ways and we would advise young people to stick with what works for them; for some people it’s writing things down and reading them over, others prefer putting all the information into a diagram. And what about speaking and listening? You could record your notes and listen back to them.

We know teenagers well enough to know that they don’t always welcome parents' help, but we also know them well enough to know that they turn to mum and dad when they’re feeling down and vulnerable.

However your kids learn, if they’re feeling at all worried, this is what we would advise:

• It seems obvious, but make time to revise! Draw up a timetable if it helps, and stick to it.
• Don’t get distracted by things like social media when revising - stay focused!
• Reward yourself with regular short breaks - have something to eat or drink, get some fresh air and go for a quick walk. But then get back to it!
• Read over your notes and write out key points.
• Test yourself - or get someone else to do it.
• Highlight key points in your books, but don't forget the context too.
• Switch between subjects regularly - too long on one subject and you'll get bored and lose concentration.
• Last minute cramming is OK, but only combined with hard work beforehand!
• Get a good night's sleep before the exam - you'll never perform at your best if you've been awake all night cramming.

Good luck!

We wish all students (and their parents!) the very best of luck over the next few weeks and really hope that your hard work pays off with the results that you want.

And if it’s not your turn for exams this year, breathe a sigh of relief for now, but think ahead! Whether your child is a high achiever who wants to gain the best possible results, or someone who struggles to keep up, we offer tailored one-to-one tuition in a whole range of subjects. If you want your child to really fulfil their potential, please talk to us about how we can help.