PODCAST · education
The Study Sessions: from The Study Buddy
by Pineapple Audio Production
Episodes
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S3 Ep30: On Preparing for the GCSE Journey
You can almost hear the collective sigh of relief from those of us who’ve now come to the end of the exam period road. Now, all we have to do is wait for the results. But amongst us there are year 10 parents, the next cohort of GCSE studying families, considering the trek ahead as they leave the...
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S3 Ep29: On what happens after GCSEs
The end of exams brings with it an almost palpable lifting of a weight. The hard work has been done – or not – and now all you have to do is wait. And I say “all” like it’s easy in itself. For some this waiting period can be a little fraught too. So what are the best ways to approach this...
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S3 Ep28: On good advice during the exam period
If there’s one thing more stressful than revision for students – and us parents – then it’s the actual exam period. Many of us will feel like life is on a knife edge not knowing what to do for the best. Just how can we move past the fluctuating moods and bouts of anxiety, to try and make this a...
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S3 Ep27: On apprenticeships as an alternative to university- "Get The Jump"
There’s a broad presumption that after school there’s A levels and then onto university for a degree. A lot of young people just seem to get swept along on this fast-flowing river of higher education. But with increasing options and alternatives, are we doing enough to make sure that our teens…
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S3 Ep26: On common questions in the run up to exams
It’s not long now until the exams. It’s a time when nerves can get frayed, and tensions run high. This is the stage of revision that is most marked by the rhetorical questions like my personal favourite: Shouldn’t you be revising? Wouldn’t it be great if there were answers out there for the…
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S3 Ep25: On revision techniques that work with Kate Jones
“I’ve been revising for ages” is often something that battle weary parents will have heard when asking how it’s going. As if lapsed time, spent near an open book or with a YouTube video playing a good use of time. But to be fair, it’s not just the procrastinators and the avoiders that struggle…
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S3 Ep24: On finding a sense of normality – when things are anything but
Keeping up with the Jones’ was always used as an expression about consumerism, upgrading the washing machine, getting a fancier car, holidaying to the Costa Del Sol – if my Essex childhood was ever in any doubt, this is proof positive! At some point it seemed that parenting fell into this way of...
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S3 Ep23: On supporting anxious and overworking teens with Dr Dominique Thompson
The run-up to exams is an anxious time for all teens – and their parents. A certain amount of stress is not only normal, it can also be a good thing. It shows that the outcome is important. However, some young people feel that pressure to perform much more than others. Sometimes to a worrying...
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S3 Ep22: On creating a revision revolution at home with Helen Howell
There’s a widely recognised link between how well teens do in their exams – and in school generally – and the kind of interest and support they get at home over around their education. At least that’s how I justify any fleeting moments of overbearing nagging to my children – and to be honest, to...
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S3 Ep21: On getting started with a plan
If you ask any exam facing student whether they want to fail, they will tell you they don’t. Of course. And invariably they’ll know that to not fail (but especially to do well) they have to revise a bit. But strangely this acceptance doesn’t always translate into action. So just what is it that...
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S3 Ep20: On how teens view time and preparation
“I’ve got loads of time”, “It won’t take me long” or “I’ll do it later” come up time and time again as the top procrastination tactics with our teens. The fact that these things are rarely true does not mean it’s easy to convince them otherwise. So what is behind our teens' often dysfunctional...
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S3 Ep19: On encouraging self-sufficiency in our teens
Having children is exhausting. I’m not daft I guess I would have realised that would be the case when they were babies, toddlers and even growing up. But no one warned me that this was a perpetual thing right up until they fly the nest – and in some cases beyond. A child can be a handful, two or...
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S3 Ep18: On Advance Information and the impact on GCSE and A Level revision
It’s been a whole two episodes since we mentioned the impact of COVID on our teen’s education. That was never going to last! In recognition of the fact that those sitting exams this year – being year 11 and year 13 students – have had two years of interrupted teaching and learning, the exam…
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S3 Ep17: On nutrition and the impact on revision and exam performance
There’s something about sugary, or creamy, or fried that screams 'treat'. Well, it does to my mind. There are those for whom a crunchy carrot baton and organic hummus are a reward. For most of us, though, I suspect we’d walk blinkered past a quinoa and courgette tray bake in favour of a doughnut...
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S3 Ep16: On making changes that stick with Shahroo Izadi
They say that around 80% of new years resolutions will fail by mid-Feb. That’s an awful lot of promises to revise harder for students and “I’ll stay stress-free” for parents that will have fallen by the wayside. But these things are important to see through. So just how is it that we gear…
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S3 Ep15: On creating a productive parent-child relationship
For most of us, a successful week of revision comes from us not having to nag or coerce our children – well not too much at least. The idea that there could be some symbiotic relationship, where parent and child actually grow and thrive throughout all of this might feel like a fiction too far.…
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S3 Ep14: On trying not to be that overbearing parent
There’s not a parent amongst us who doesn’t want their child to do well. Them doing well gives them more options. It will raise their self-esteem and confidence. And often, from our point of view, it’s what we know they are truly capable of…. But is there a danger at some point do we become more...
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S3 Ep13: On being more effective in supporting a studying teen
As we ring in the new year, we’re often symbolically determined to make a fresh start. For thousands of students, there’s renewed vigour – if not enthusiasm – to revise. And a correlated number of parents who are promising to make sure that they do. But you can’t expect a change by doing the same...
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S3 Ep12: On target grades and school reports with David Didau
The end of term reports are in. In many households, this can hold more sway over Christmas harmony than Santa’s naughty and nice lists. But are we right to put so much store in them? By which I mean the predicted grades not Santa's lists, obviously. This week's guest is David Didau. David is…
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S3 Ep11: On wanting to do well but struggling with motivation
This week's guest is teen, Emily. She's taking her GCSE exams in 2022. She talks openly about motivation (or lack of) even though she knows the exams are important. She also explains why she wouldn't mind if exams were cancelled. It's great to have a teen perspective. Often, as adults, we have a...
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S3 Ep10: On approval, self worth and learning from our experiences with Sanjeev Bhaskar
We’ve all done that thing of saying or doing something to our children we promised our younger selves we would never say or do. It’s the gradual but undeniable transformation into our own parents. But is that such a bad thing? After all, doesn’t it come from a place of good intention and concern...
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S3 Ep9: On successful habits and study skills
It’s been quite a while since many of us have taken an exam, so it’s understandable that we might have forgotten some of the best practices. To be honest I suspect a significant number of us may not have been especially au fait with those best practices at the time either! That can make it tricky...
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S3 Ep8: On boarding school
Parenting can be a thankless task at times. Sure there are great bits to it, and on balance we wouldn’t be without them. Well, not all of us, and not all of the time. But there are aspects of the role that can be unwelcomed. The disciplinarian or enforcer role. The “have you done your homework”...
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S3 Ep7: On co-parenting and blended families
Our guest this week is Darren. He's dad to two teens - a girl who is in the first year of A Levels and a boy sitting GCSEs in 2022. Darren talks about his experiences of supporting teens when they live half the time with him, half the time with his ex-wife share. We cover the difficulties of...
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S3 Ep6: On busy home lives, structure and handling teens with very different approaches
Jenny is mum to two teen girls. One is taking her GCSEs in 2022 and the other the following year. Both are incredibly sporty and keep Jenny and her husband busy with matches and practices in addition to the usual teen activities. We talk about how to manage hectic schedules and hope to keep on…
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S3 Ep5: On Sixth Form college and further education choices - with Gill Walmsley
This week listen to Head of Sixth Form, Gillian Walmsley talk about life beyond GCSEs. Gill reflects on her daughter's A Level decisions a couple of years ago as well as providing expert advice for parents and students. We talk about choosing an institution to go to, things to consider when...
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S3 Ep4: On procrastination, half term and Covid impacts
Meet Carol, mum to GCSE-taking teen Poppy. This is a truly honest take on the position our teens find themselves in. And also the toll that it takes on us, their parents. Carol has an elder daughter too and reflects on the very different experiences her girls have had in the run-up to the exams.…
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S3 Ep3: On A Levels in 2022, supporting a child with ADHD and the importance of other parents to talk with.
In this episode, you'll hear from Kate. Kate is in the unenviable position of having both her children sitting exams in 2022. Tabitha taking her A Levels and Jude his GCSEs. Tabitha, like all other A Level students, was the first year of cancelled GCSE exams. Kate tells about the impact that has…
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S3 Ep2: Parent perspective: On focus, the gap to GCSEs and helping without interfering
In this episode, you'll hear from Barbara and her experiences with her teen daughter, Laura. Barbara and her family moved to England from Portugal in 2013. While you might think that cultural and language issues feature among Barbara's concerns for her GCSE facing teen, you - and I - would be...
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S3 Ep1: Parent perspective - Forming good habits in the absence of drive
This season of The Study Sessions will focus on the real experiences of parents, students and teachers. In this first episode, Nathan McGurl - founder of The Study Buddy - gets the ball rolling by talking about his daughter, Emily. Approaching her GCSEs in 2022, Emily has always been a...
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S2 Ep42: Pens Down: Answering questions on exams, revision and wellbeing in teens
Well, that was quite a year! It might not have panned out as any of us expected. But, one thing is for sure, our young people have shown themselves to adapt well to the changing circumstances and, in the overwhelming majority of cases, resilient to the setbacks that 18 months of a pandemic have...
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S2 Ep41: Growing Motivated: How we can develop and encourage motivation in our teens
"Studying’s boring. I’ve already done enough. The test’s not for ages. The teacher told us it wasn’t important. What’s the point, I’m rubbish anyway?" I could go on with the list of typical student reactions to the prospect of revision. Not only have I heard them from my own children and other...
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S2 Ep40: Note Bene: Distilling and organising notes and ideas for effective studying
There’s something comforting about seeing a teen’s notepad with actual notes inside it! Of course, the occasional diagram has its place too. The written word reassures us that they are working. Simply the more notes, the harder they’re working. After all, that’s how they did it in my day. However...
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S2 Ep39: At Home With MARGE: Exploring Shimamura's approach to learning
Teaching and learning are something that has been happening since the dawn of time – or thereabouts. And we do it all the time in non-school contexts, as do our children. But that doesn’t mean, necessarily that the things we need to learn stick, especially when there is an entire world of...
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S2 Ep38: The Balancing Act: Student stress and future progression in the 2021 exam series.
In normal times, exams can be a cause of stress and anxiety for students. Even those students who have studied and you’d think are well prepared are subjected to the mounting pressure. In fact, these abnormal times are no different. Exams have been replaced with Teacher Assessment and a process...
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S2 Ep37: Project Revision: Project Management skills to help you help your teen
The end of the academic year is upon us. For GCSE and A Level students, the worst is now over. Many have finished their courses and looking forward to a couple of extra weeks of the British summer. However, for other year groups throughout secondary school, just over the horizon looms the…
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S2 Ep36: Constant Challenge: Striving for consistency in teacher assessed grades
The pandemic has resulted in canceled exams for hundreds of thousands of pupils across the UK. In their place, we have Teacher Assessed Grades; where teachers are using their professional and holistic judgment to determine the level that a student is performing at. On the face of it at all sounds...
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S2 Ep35: Burden Of Proof: Evidence in teacher assessed grades
In any normal year, the GCSE and A Level exam period would be starting about now. But, there’s scarcely any need to point out that this isn’t a normal year! You might be forgiven for thinking that in the absence of exams there would be less pressure and a distinct lack of need to revise. However,...
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S2 Ep34: We've Got Chemistry: GCSE study tips and advice
Between finding things that explode or pop or fizzle and trying to not set notes alight with Bunsen burners many of us will have fond memories of Chemistry lessons. But it's not all parlour tricks and safety goggles, there’s a considerable amount of content to be learnt. Between the scientific...
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S2 Ep33: Exam Conditions: Consistency and quality assurance in 2021 exams
As we’re now well into the swing of the Summer term, the end is firmly – and finally – in sight for our GCSE and A Level students. Unfortunately for many, that goal post can still seem a little blurry. We know that, like last year, disrupted and unequal access to schooling has resulted in the...
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S2 Ep32: Self Directed Destination: The importance of self-regulating independent learners
Legend tells of students who will settle down to studying – of their own volition! They want to do well - and are prepared to work for it - without it becoming all-consuming. However, up and down the country exam year households tend to be filled with the same sorts of questions: “have you got…
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S2 Ep31: At Home With Learning: A look at alternative education provision
The pandemic, and resulting interruption to education, has led increasing numbers of parents and young people to think about whether being at school is the best place for them. While, for many of us, this period of remote learning reinforced the need for our children to be in class, others saw it...
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S2 Ep30: With A Flourish: Looking a success beyond grades.
In previous years a student’s idea of success – and many parents – is the grade they get. Essentially boiling down to how they do in their exams. And there is absolutely no denying that getting good grades is, for many, the key that unlocks the next door. But if this global pandemic has taught us...
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S2 Ep29: Mind The Gap: The problems inherent in 'catching-up'
When we look back at the last year of various lockdowns, it’s easy to see why the usual amount of course content hasn’t been taught. And, with the best will in the world - and heroic teacher efforts across the board - there’s no way that remote learning could be a substitute for being in a...
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S2 Ep28: End Of Year Report: A reflection on 12 months of the podcast.
Time flies when you’re having fun. But apparently, it also goes fairly quickly when gripped in a global pandemic, enduring various tiered lockdowns, and a feeling that we’re not so much working from home as living at work. And let’s no get started on remote learning…. It’s hard to believe that…
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S2 Ep27: Making The Grade: Determining GCSE and A Level results in 2021
In many subjects, it all hinges on the final exam. It’s seen by many as the culmination of 2 or 3 years worth of study. It’s a source of great anxiety in the run-up and often huge relief when they’re finished. However, just like last year, the class of 2021 will not be sitting these terminal…
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S2 Ep26: Light Touch: The importance of light on development and wellbeing in teens.
There's a universal truth that teens lock themselves away in their darkened bedrooms, headphones on, and within an arm’s distance of a screen – whether that’s a phone, laptop or a video game. This isn’t a new phenomenon. But even with a pre-disposition to languish in their caves, lockdown has...
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S2 Ep25: No Hablo Teen: Tips and ideas for learning a language at GCSE
Growing up in the 80s, there was a real drive to teach children foreign languages at school – something you can still see today with introductory lessons often taking place in primary schools. And although there are fewer students taking GCSEs in modern foreign languages than a decade ago…
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S2 Ep24: It's Behind You: The importance of reflection and communication
There is an insta-perfect perception of remote schooling and revision. It's the one where parents are casually teaching their children quadratic equations; while perfecting cold fusion as a side hustle. In this world parent and child move in some magical symbiotic harmony. And the kids probably...
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S2 Ep23: Out Of Style: Exploring the 'Learning Style' neuromyth and when to bust it
The idea that we have a 'best way' to learn - whether it's visually, verbally, via touch or one of another 67 ways is not new. At the same time, neither is the research that debunks this theory. Odd then that not only do we as individuals and parents still hold on to this idea but that the...
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