#University open days are a crucial part of choosing the right course, when it comes to making your #UCAS application

Exams are nearly over and Year 12 students are knuckling down to their year 13 courses and beginning to ask themselves 'What next after school?' 

For those planing on applying to university, tuition fees means students are committing themselves to significant investment in their future, through university study. As such, careful consideration must be made regarding the course of study, to gain the best possible return on this investment, when it comes to employment and a career.

June sees many universities holding Open Days, an important opportunity for sixth form students to review course options before submitting their UCAS application in the Autumn. 

A website is a good way to start research, but a visit enables you to take in the atmosphere and ask specific questions. Most universities allow you to to book to visit their Open Days online.

Prepare a check list of questions, so you leave the day feeling fully informed about both the course and what it would be like to study at the university itself.

Here are some suggested questions below:

1. For your chosen course, what is the weekly contact teaching time and how does the system of tutorials work?

1. How is the course assessed – how much is project work as opposed to exams?

1. How many places are offered on your chosen course each year?

1. How are applicants evaluated, e.g. are interviews part of this process?

1. Does the course include time in industry, work experience or opportunities overseas?

1. Do current students recommend the course?

1. What careers advice is available?

1. What percentage of last year’s graduates from this course gained employment and what types of jobs have they secured?

1. What clubs and societies are offered and are the facilities for sport, the Arts etc. likely to match your interests?

1. What is the policy for accommodation in the first year? If this is your first time away from home living in a hall of residence will make it easier to meet new friends.

1. Do you like the atmosphere? You will be living there for at least 3 years so need to feel at home in the environment you choose. Campus style universities or those that are located around a town have a different feel.

1. Are there good bus routes or secure areas for bicycles for travel to lectures? Think twice about taking a car. Parking can often be difficult and cars are very expensive to run.

Do you need some assistance with reviewing your university course options or with making a strong UCAS application?

Our team of friendly professional consultants are here to help. For an informal chat about how we might help you, call Claire Coker on +44 (0)1865 522066

or Email consultants@independenteducationconsultants.co.uk

You will find more information by visiting our website via the link below

http://independenteducationconsultants.co.uk/applying-to-uk-university/

Congratulations prep school leavers! #commonentrance

Tomorrow will see a buzz of excitement among prep school leavers, with news of Common Entrance results for the majority of children leading to a confirmed place at their chosen senior school. Sighs of relief will quickly turn to excitement as the summer holidays approach and then gradually thoughts will turn towards making a new start, as they move on to their future school.

Here are 10 tips for parents to prepare your child over the summer, so they are ready to hit the ground running in the larger, more independent, hectic environment at senior school.

1. Keep their brain ticking over with reading books from the local library, visits to art galleries and museums, doing puzzles, playing scrabble, subscribing to online maths programmes etc.
2. Review joining information now. Return forms in plenty of time. There may be first-come-first-served timetabling choices to make, such as which extra language or musical instrument to take up, or booking in a mouthguard fitting.
3. Run through the pupil handbook together to establish daily routine and rules. Getting into trouble in the first few weeks will be a set-back in the settling in process.
4. Look over the extra-curricular programme, discussing which have most appeal. Planning school runs and other family commitments will be easier if you have an idea of when school commitments might be.
5. Request email and phone numbers are circulated amongst form or house groups. Make contact with other families to arrange joint activities over the summer. Starting a new school alongside familiar faces is far less daunting.
6. Gradually increase independence, for example catching the bus to the local shopping centre to meet friends for a couple of hours.
7. Be firm on time-keeping and give advice about keeping themselves and valuables safe. Encourage your child to act responsibly and solve problems themselves.
8. If boarding for the first time, practise housekeeping skills such as keeping a tidy bedroom, keeping track of possessions, changing a duvet cover and putting clothes into the laundry daily.
9. Buy new uniform as soon as is practical, bearing in mind summer growth spurts. Leaving this until the last week of the holiday means items are more likely to be out of stock and the shops will be insanely busy with those doing everything at the last-minute. Name everything clearly and securely, including techy gadgets, chargers, trainers and in particular sports kit, which often tends to disappear.
10. If starting a new sport such as lacrosse, hockey or rugby, book a pre-season summer course to get to grips with some of the skills before term starts. This will boost confidence and give them a head-start in September.

For the very few for whom results day brings disappointing news, firstly seek and listen to the advice of your prep school Head. They have strong relationships with senior schools and know your child well, so will be best placed to advise and support you in securing the right alternative school to the one you had your hopes pinned to.

If you would like an independent viewpoint, in tandem with that of your school, our team of friendly consultants are here with a listening ear and a big box of tissues, to advise and support you in reviewing your options.

For advice on choosing the right senior school please contact us to speak with one of our expert education consultants. 

Visit our website http://independenteducationconsultants.co.uk/prep-to-senior-school-choices-at-11-or-13/ 

Or Call 01865 522066 

Or Email Claire on consultants@independenteducationconsultants.co.uk

An A to Z of tips and questions for #parents, when choosing or visiting a potential #school.

Whatever age and stage of education your child has reached, planning their next school can be a confusing and sometimes even daunting process. Dodging the minefield of gossip at dinner parties can be tricky, not to mention handling passionate advice from family members who are keen to relate their own experiences. Below are a few tips from our education consultant team, gathered through years of experience supporting parents with their future school choices. Whatever your dilemma or concern, chances are we have heard it before and can offer an independent perspective on how to move forward in the best interests of your child as an individual.

Academic level of the school MUST match that of your child. It should present them with challenge to aim high, but be realistic.

Boarding school pros and cons. It’s important to understand 21st Century boarding rather than thinking boarding is still as it may have once been when you were at school.

Curriculum strengths differ on a school by school basis. For example in areas such as Science, Sport, Music, Drama, Art. These need to match those of your child so they will feel engaged and inspired.

Dyslexia or other learning support. Does the school use teaching methods and styles to suit the individual child’s needs?

Extra-curricular opportunities which will match the talents and interests of your child. Inspiring your child to try new things is an important part of an all-round education.

Full-boarding should have a 7 day a week programme, particularly if you live overseas.

Guardianship policy. Does this give you the reassurance that someone is looking out for your child while you are overseas?

Head’s philosophy of education and strong leadership is important. Do the school ethos and values match yours?

Information technology should be noticeable on a tour around the school. Is it gathering dust or is it being used creatively to compliment work in the classroom?

Keep your options open with the range of schools you short-list. On the other hand, try not to visit too many or you will get confused.

Location in relation to home must make school runs practical if day school is your preference. Does the school have lessons and sport on a Saturday and how will this integrate with your family life at home? If your child is boarding, would they prefer a rural countryside campus or perhaps a school located in a town or city? Do you need to be close to airports or train links?

Meet the Head when you visit and ideally try to go on a normal school day when you can see the school in action rather, than when it is on show, perhaps on an Open day.

Nurturing self confidence and self-esteem vs. a more competitive, driven environment. Your child’s personality must suit the environment for them to thrive.

Option blocks for subject choices at GCSE and in the sixth form. Are some subjects compulsory?

Parent portal on the website. Does this provide easy access to information about your child and what is happening at school day-to-day, to enable you to  monitor their progress whilst at school, especially if you live overseas.

Qualifications offered for example 11+ CE, GCSE, IGCSE, A Levels, IB, EPQ. PreU

Reporting, evaluation of effort and progress. How does the school ensure parents are kept informed?

Single sex vs. Co-ed and which suits your child?

Teachers’ specialisms and classroom ‘feel’ and atmosphere. Does the school appear traditional or present a more in-formal approach to learning?

Uniform policy, colour and style. Is this worn in both the lower school and sixth form?

Visit the schools at least two years before the September of entry. Places can fill up quickly, so allow enough time to meet the criteria of what can sometimes be a lengthy and competitive admissions process.

Wifi and the use of ipads, laptops and smartphones. Technology is now a crucial part of education for the future.

‘EX’eat and weekend policy in boarding schools - how often will your child be permitted to come home and if you live overseas how often will they need to stay with their guardian?

Your gut feeling about which is the right school is the one that matters. Try to put aside dinner party banter, family input and tradition or league tables. None of these consider schools from the individual perspective of your child.

‘Zeek’ advice from your current school Head, Housemaster or tutor. They know you and your child well so can suggest schools which match your academic aspirations, as well as the skills and interests of your child.

Do you need advice with choosing the right school? Our team of education consultants can help.

Visit our website for more information by clicking the link below.

http://independenteducationconsultants.co.uk/choosing-a-school-age-5-7-11-13-or-16/

Here is what our clients say about us:

“I have been singing your praises to anyone who would listen and will happily spread the word. I wanted you to know that through all the oscillation, deliberation and concern, my husband and I have gone back to your crystal clear words of wisdom. It helped so much coming from someone with intelligence and experience on this confounding subject and has helped us take this giant leap of faith. Thank you. I believe we are finally on right path for our daughter.”

Call Claire on 01865 522066 or email consultants@independenteducationconsultants.co.uk

The A to Z of #parents' #education decisions, along the timeline of UK #school life

Throughout the school life of a child, their parents are faced with a multitude of decisions, challenges and un-expected outcomes. Our team of professional consultants has experience across all areas of education. 

Here is an A to Z of how we can help

A is for A LEVELS VS IB AND FINDING THE RIGHT ACADEMIC OPTION

B for BOARDING SCHOOL CHOICES AND WHY BOARD AT ALL?

C is for CV, CAREER PLANNING AND UCAS CLEARING IN AUGUST

D for DYSLEXIA SUPPORT

E for ELEVEN PLUS AND ADVICE AFTER EXPULSION

F is for FINDING THE RIGHT SCHOOL FOR THE INDIVIDUAL CHILD

G for GUARDIAN FAMILIES SUPPORTING PARENTS WHO LIVE OVERSEAS

H is for HOMEWORK PLANNING FOR EFFECTIVE HOME-STUDY

I is for INTERVIEW PRACTICE FOR TOP SENIOR SCHOOLS AT 13+ AND SIXTH FORM

J is for JUST GIVE US A CALL TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN HELP

K is for KNOWLEDGEABLE TEAM OF FRIENDLY CONSULTANT EXPERTS

L is for LEARNING SUPPORT AND ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE

M is for MEDICINE APPLICATIONS FOR TOP UK UNIVERSITY 

N - NO PROBLEM TOO BIG OR SMALL

O is for OPEN DAY VISITS AND ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

P is for PERSONAL STATEMENT WRITING FOR UCAS

Q is for QUESTIONS ABOUT PREP TO SENIOR SCHOOL TRANSITION AT 13+

R for REVISION COURSES AND RE-TAKES

S is for STUDY SKILLS

T for TUTORS

U is for UCAS APPLICATION AND CHOOSING THE RIGHT UNIVERSITY COURSE

V is for VISIT THIS BLOG EVERY WEEK FOR REGULAR EDUCATION TIPS 

W is for WORK EXPERIENCE PLANNING AND MONITORING

X is for ‘EXPATS’ CHOOSING THE RIGHT UK SCHOOL

Y is for WHY NOT CALL OR EMAIL OUR FRIENDLY TEAM TO FIND OUT MORE?

Z is for ZEN-THE WAY TO ENLIGHTENMENT IN YOUR EDUCATION CHOICES AND DECISIONS.

DO YOU NEED ADVICE WITH YOUR EDUCATION AND SCHOOL CHOICES?

Our team of friendly professional consultants are here to help.

For an informal chat about how we might help you, call Claire Coker on +44 (0)1865 522066

or Email consultants@independenteducationconsultants.co.uk

Top Ten Nutrition Tips for #Exam Success

With exams now well and truly under-way for GCSE and sixth form students, this week's blog has some tips from Jocelyn Peregrine, a nutritional therapist.

Eating and drinking properly can make a massive difference to exam performance and revision effectiveness.  The trick is to have the right food and drink readily at hand and the junk food banished from the house.  Then, to persuade the exam taker to actually consume it!

1. Drink Water

Aim for 1.5-2 litres of water a day, NOT fizzy drinks or energy drinks.  Being properly hydrated can increased performance by up to 20%.  If plain water is deemed too "boring", then try adding fresh lemon or lime juice, mint, cucumber or even ginger.  If fizzy is essential, then sparkling water is OK.

2. Keep sugar to a minimum

Students need a slow, even release of energy to keep their brains working at optimal levels.  Sugar provides a fast release of glucose into the blood stream that acts like rocket fuel - energy off the scale for about half and hour and then a slump, when the brain slows down and the body craves more sugar, distracting from studies.

Watch for hidden sugar in breakfast cereals, supposedly healthy nutri bars, fruit juices, white bread, white pasta etc.

3. Eat breakfast!

This is especially important for exam days when snacks won't be available in the exam room.  However, revision days still need this too. A protein rich breakfast is ideal as it should provide a slow release of energy for three or four hours e.g. Eggs on wholemeal toast, porridge or muesli with ground nuts and fresh fruit, wholemeal toast with nut butter, or yoghurt with fruit, nuts and seeds. 

4. Protein with every meal

Ensure students get some protein with each meal and snack, not only breakfast.  There's always the revision for the next exam that's going to need energy and brain power.  Remember rich protein sources  includes meat, poultry, eggs, dairy products, chickpeas, kidney beans and other legumes, homous, nuts, seeds tofu and miso.

5.  Vegetables  - loads!

Vegetables and fruit provide the majority of the vitamins and minerals we all need in order for our bodies to work at their best.  This includes energy production, nervous systems, and brain power, to name a few.  Aim to eat the full rainbow of colours every day, preferably with at least 3 green leafy vegetables as part of a 7+ portions a day.  Ideally you want the ratio to be 2 veg to 1 fruit portion.  Try green smoothies, which are a great way to pack in loads of veg (and a bit of fruit) into a drink.

6. Snacks - yes, definitely!

Again, keep the energy up with a good snack that will keep the energy going, such as a piece of fruit with a small handful of nuts, hard boiled eggs, nut butter sandwich (wholemeal), homemade flapjacks, nuts and seeds, smoothies.

7.  Magnesium - the de-stressor

The mineral magnesium is nature's de-stressor and relaxant.  So, it would be great to have as much as possible to try to avoid the pre-exam meltdowns.  Best sources include green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, fish, legumes, avocados, bananas, yoghurt, dark chocolate.

Epsom salt baths (magnesium sulphate) is also a great way to absorb it.  Two hands full in a hot bath last thing before bed helps provide a good sleep.

8. Regular breaks

The brain works best in chunks of less than an hour, so a five minute break every hour or so is ideal.  Trick is to ensure it is only five minutes and doesn't become a prolonged computer game session!  Try to ensure once or twice a day students get some fresh air....getting outside, preferably exercising, can invigorate them with renewed energy and focus.  Exercise will increase circulation and release endorphins (brain's feel good chemicals).

9.  Deep Breathing

Essential at that moment of turning over the exam paper, but if done regularly throughout the day can help keep students release tension, stay calmer and provide a better supply of oxygen to the brain for clarity of thinking.  In brief, breathe in (filling your belly) for the count of 5, hold for 3, release for 5.

10. Sleep

Absolutely essential!  This is when the brain processes and assimilates all the work that has been learnt during the day.  Teenagers ideally need ten hours.....a tall order, I realise, especially if there is late night revision going on.  Encourage maximum possible and try to ensure bedrooms are electronics free at night.....that means, no phones, no tablets, no PCs and no TVs.  Not only does the distraction harm their sleep, so does the radiation.

Good luck to students and parents alike!

Jocelyn Peregrine

Nutritional Therapist

BSC ( Hons)  Dip (NT)  BANT  CNHC

www.jocelynperegrine.co.uk

07966 240064

State #boarding #schools - are these the secret gems of the state sector?

Parents will often make huge sacrifices to enable their children to gain the unique opportunities offered by a traditional British boarding school education. What they don't always realise is that this opportunity can be gained at a third of the cost at one of the UK's state boarding schools. 

The standard of education offered at state boarding schools is very high and the boarding provision matches that of the independent sector. Add to this the myriad extra-curricular activities and the chance to make friends from all over the world and the state boarding option starts to look very attractive. Just as in independent schools, children in state boarding schools make deep friendships which last for their life-time, and the opportunity for building character, independence and resilience is invaluable. The opportunity to board can also benefit families where parents work long hours or have to travel overseas for work reasons.

State boarding schools are very varied in style and character and are situated all over the country. There are selective schools and comprehensive schools; co-ed and single-sex schools; primary schools, secondary schools and sixth form colleges; specialists in many different subjects; all-boarding or minority boarding. The best way to find out which school would suit your child best is to start with the website and then arrange a visit.

Pupils joining state boarding schools need to be UK or EU passport holders, but this includes a surprising number of nationalities from across the world. In order to apply parents will need to look at the individual school websites. Many state boarding schools are academies and you can therefore apply direct, but for Year 7 pupils, you may find you need to approach the relevant local authority.

For more information take a look at the State Boarding Schools Association website on www.sbsa.org.uk

Do you need some advice on choosing the right school? 

Visit our website for more details on how our team of professional, friendly consultants can advise you.

http://independenteducationconsultants.co.uk/prep-to-senior-school-choices-at-11-or-13/

A few tips for #parents when supporting a teenager with #exam #revision planning.

Here are a few words of advice from our Director of Consultancy Services, Brian McGee.

This is the time of year when parents are often tearing their hair out about their teenager’s revision planning – or lack of it! Here are a few useful Dos and Don’ts for stressed parents.

Do:

1. Provide a clear, quiet space for revision, away from the rest of the family, with a desk and access to the internet
2. Support your teenager with ready drinks, snacks and healthy meals
3. Ensure that the family routine allows for good quality sleep
4. Offer to help with revision planning, including drawing up a calendar of family commitments between now and the end of the exams which might interfere with the programme
5. Encourage your teenager to take regular breaks, including periods of activity, preferably outdoors, after any two-hour revision session. The brain needs time to absorb new material and so the memory will still be working away while the student is doing other things
6. Offer to act as a testing buddy. Facts and theories need constant embedding through regular checking and testing of knowledge. Test material from the previous day’s revision, then test it again the following week
7. Encourage your teenager to use the study methods which work best for their learning style, be they mind maps, charts, audio clips or flashcards
8. Download past papers and mark schemes from the exam board websites so that the student can test and check their knowledge and understanding under examination conditions
9. Offer to buy revision guides, highlighters and index cards to help with revision, but beware of spending too much on published revision guides without the advice of your teenager’s teachers
10. Plan little treats to break up the revision period and a nice big treat for after the exams

Don’t:

1. Nag! Not only is nagging counter-productive, but it actually interferes with the calm, rational thought processes required for good learning to happen. It also causes unproductive stress for you!
2. Assume that your teenager’s laissez-faire attitude means they don’t care. The head-in-the-sand response can often belie severe anxiety going on underneath
3. Panic that they have left it all too late. A good revision plan even at this stage can make a difference, working back from the dates of the exams
4. Tell them they’re going to fail. Teenagers’ confidence can easily be severely damaged by your apparent view of them, even if well-intentioned

Good luck!

Do you need help with revision planning? Our friendly, professional team of education consultants can help. 

Please get in touch for an informal chat about your requirements.

Tel 01865 522066 or email Claire via  consultants@independenteducationconsultants.co.uk