Students often walk into a session confident that they understand a concept, only to realise during discussion or practice that there are gaps they never noticed. This isn’t a sign of laziness or lack of effort. It is a natural part of learning. Psychologists refer to this as the “illusion of understanding,” a bias where students believe they know more than they actually do because material feels familiar or easy to recognise. When a student rereads notes or listens to an explanation, the content appears clear, which convinces them that they have mastered it. Familiarity, however, is not the same as true understanding.

Tutors play a crucial role in breaking this illusion. A good tutor doesn’t simply ask a student whether they understand a topic. Instead, they ask the student to explain it in their own words, apply it to a new situation or solve a question that slightly stretches what they learned. These small challenges reveal the difference between recognising an idea and being able to use it. Once students see the gap for themselves, they become more open to learning and more aware of how to study effectively.

Another powerful tool tutors use is targeted questioning. When students struggle to articulate a response, tutors guide them with prompts that encourage deeper thinking. This helps students identify the exact point where their understanding fades. It also trains them to be self reflective learners who check their thinking rather than assuming they know the answer.

Over time, this process builds accurate self assessment skills. Students begin to recognise when they truly understand a concept and when they need more practice. This not only improves their academic performance but also boosts their confidence, since they learn how to measure their progress honestly and effectively.

Freddie Le Vay

When it comes to studying effectively, I’ve learned that it’s not just about the amount of time you put in, but how you manage your time and energy. Over the years, I’ve developed a few key strategies that have made a huge difference in my learning experience.

First, I always start by setting clear, achievable goals. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of material to cover, but breaking everything down into smaller tasks makes it manageable. I like to write out what I need to accomplish for the day, and then prioritise the most important tasks. This helps me stay focused and avoid procrastination. I also give myself small rewards for completing each task, which motivates me to keep going.

Another strategy that works for me is creating a dedicated study environment. I make sure my space is quiet, organised, and free from distractions. This environment signals to my brain that it’s time to focus. I also make sure to eliminate digital distractions by turning off my phone or using apps that block social media during study sessions. This way, I can stay fully immersed in the material and avoid the temptation to check my phone every few minutes.

Lastly, unless I am doing a practice exam, I make sure to take regular breaks. I utilise a method called the Pomodoro technique, which involves studying for 25 minutes, followed by a 5-minute break. This helps me maintain focus and avoid burnout, as I give myself time to recharge and refresh my mind before diving back into work.

In the end, effective studying is all about consistency and finding what works best for you. By staying organised, engaged, and disciplined, I’ve found that I can retain more information and perform better in my studies. The key is to keep experimenting and adjusting until you find the study routine that suits you best.

Michael Fry

Studying with friends can be great or completely unproductive. It really depends on how it’s done, who you’re working with, and what you actually need to achieve in that session. For some students, it becomes a valuable way to reinforce learning. For others, it turns into three hours of pretending to work and getting nowhere.

There are definite upsides to studying together. Explaining a concept to someone else is one of the best ways to test whether you truly understand it. A good study group can also help you stay motivated and on track, especially when you’re covering difficult topics or feeling overwhelmed. If everyone’s focused and brings something to the table, it can speed up understanding and make study feel less isolating.

But it doesn’t always work that way. Group study can easily fall apart when people are at different levels, get distracted, or start relying on others instead of doing the thinking themselves. If you find yourself just copying answers or zoning out while someone else talks, it’s probably not helping.

The key is structure. Go in with a clear goal, whether it’s quizzing each other, reviewing past paper questions, or taking turns teaching a concept. Keep it short and focused. If it starts drifting, it’s probably time to stop.

In the end, some things are better learned alone, and others benefit from discussion. The trick is knowing which is which and being honest with yourself about what’s actually working.

Michael Fry

What came first the chicken or the egg? On one hand, mathematical patterns clearly exist in nature, from the symmetry of snowflakes linking to fibonacci to planetary orbits elliptical ultimately suggesting we discover underlying equations that were always there linking the universe. On the other hand, the symbols, equations, and logical frameworks we use to describe those patterns must be human creations, meaning we also invent the language of maths to explain what we see around us.

The most balanced view is that math is both: the universe provides the structures, and humans design the tools to understand them using logic and our building framework. This perspective helps students see maths not as arbitrary rules, but as a creative and powerful way of making sense of the world.

Starsky

As a tutor working with Year 2 students, I’m often reminded that a full hour can feel like a marathon for a seven- or eight-year-old. Their minds are busy, their bodies are energetic, and their natural curiosity sometimes takes them in every direction except the one you planned. But that is developmentally expected. Hence why, It’s about shaping the hour so it works with their needs rather than against them.
One thing I’ve learned is that variety is crucial. Year 2 students rarely thrive when an activity drags on too long, so I break our session into manageable chunks. A typical hour might include a warm-up game, a focused task, a hands-on activity, and a short reflection. Each part has a different energy level, keeping the student engaged without overwhelming them.
Brain breaks are another essential tool. I’ve stopped seeing them as interruptions and started seeing them as investments. A two-minute movement stretch or a quick uno game can reset their attention far better than pushing through fading focus.
I also make the learning environment predictable. Young children feel more secure when they know what’s coming next, so I often use a simple visual schedule or a timer. It doesn’t just keep us on track—it gives them a sense of control.
Most importantly, I try to meet them where they are. Some days they’re fully switched on; other days, they’re distracted before we even begin. Instead of fighting it, I adapt: more movement, more hands-on learning, more encouragement.
Keeping a Year 2 student engaged for an hour isn’t about demanding focus—it’s about designing it. And when we get that balance right, the hour not only becomes manageable but genuinely enjoyable for both tutor and student.

airi yamanaka

Building strong foundational maths skills in high school is incredibly important because these basics act like the building blocks for everything students will learn later. Without a solid base, more advanced topics can feel confusing, overwhelming, and frustrating. But when students really understand the core ideas, harder concepts make much more sense, and they become far more confident learners.
Foundational skills include things like working comfortably with fractions, decimals, percentages, basic algebra, equations, and understanding how numbers behave. These may seem simple, but they show up everywhere in high school maths—often in hidden ways. For example, solving quadratic equations requires confidence with algebra. Understanding rates of change in calculus depends on a strong sense of functions and graphs. Even statistics relies on clear thinking about ratios, proportions, and averages.
When students master these basics early, they can focus on the actual ideas behind advanced maths instead of feeling lost in the steps. It’s a bit like learning to walk before trying to run. If you skip ahead too soon, you spend more time trying not to fall than actually moving forward.
Having strong foundational skills also boosts problem-solving abilities. Students learn to break problems down, recognise patterns, and choose the right tools to solve them. These skills don’t just help in maths class—they’re valuable for science, technology, finance, and everyday decisions.
Most importantly, confidence grows when the basics feel easy. Students are much more willing to tackle challenges when they trust their own understanding. This can turn maths from something stressful into something genuinely enjoyable.
In short, investing time in foundational maths skills gives high school students the best chance to succeed. It creates a strong base for future learning, reduces frustration, and builds the confidence needed to take on more complex ideas with success.

Jemima Smith

Digital literacy is often described as a useful skill, but in today’s education landscape it has become a fundamental requirement. Students interact with digital environments in almost every aspect of their lives, yet many schools still treat digital literacy as an optional add-on rather than a core component of the curriculum.

Digital literacy extends far beyond the ability to use devices or navigate apps. It involves understanding how information is produced, how algorithms influence what people see, and how to evaluate sources for reliability. Without these skills, students can struggle to distinguish credible information from misleading content. As online misinformation becomes more sophisticated, critical evaluation is no longer a niche capability – it is part of everyday decision-making.

There is also a growing need for students to understand the basics of data privacy. Many young people share personal information online without fully recognising how platforms store, track, and monetise their data. Teaching students to assess privacy settings, recognise digital footprints, and understand consent in online spaces equips them to participate safely and responsibly in digital environments.

Integrating digital literacy into mainstream subjects creates powerful learning opportunities. For example, analysing online sources in history classes can help students understand bias and perspective. In science, evaluating the quality of online research helps students apply the scientific method beyond the classroom. Embedding these skills across disciplines, rather than isolating them in a single ICT lesson, reflects the realities of modern information use.

Treating digital literacy as a core subject prepares students for an increasingly complex world. It enhances academic performance, supports responsible citizenship, and reduces vulnerability to manipulation or misinformation. As technology continues to shape social, economic, and political life, ensuring that students are digitally literate is not optional – it is essential for equitable and informed participation in the future.

Oliver Fletcher

A good tutor does far more than help a student get through homework or prepare for an exam. Tutoring can transform the way a young person views learning altogether. When students feel supported, heard, and capable their relationship with education shifts. Growing from something they must do into something they can genuinely enjoy and feel empowered by.

One of the most significant impacts a tutor can have is building confidence. Many students come to tutoring believing they’re ‘bad’ at a subject, or that they’re so far behind and simply can’t keep up. By breaking concepts down, celebrating small wins, and modelling a calm, patient approach to problem-solving, students realise that ability is not fixed. Over time, challenges become less intimidating, and students begin to back their own thinking.

Confidence leads to curiosity, naturally. When a student no longer feels overwhelmed, they can start exploring subjects more deeply and begin to actively look forward to their own learning. This shift from passive learning to active engagement can stay with a student long after the tutoring may end.

Most importantly, a positive tutoring experience can shape a student’s future view of learning. Instead of seeing education as a series of obstacles, students begin to see it as their own journey, something they look forward to tackling. They learn that questions are valuable, mistakes are part of the process, and improvement is always possible. These lessons build resilience and independence, qualities that support them well into adulthood.

In this way, good tutors don’t just teach content. They help students rewrite their own academic narratives and step into the future with confidence, curiosity, and a genuine love of learning.

Lewin Fairbairn

Hey everyone, today I had the great opportunity to observe Kate.

It was great to see how friendly her student was and how well they got along. It was great to see how her student was very comfortable with Kate ! They had a great relationship and they got along really well.

They started by going through her students common mod assessment task. They looked at the notification and started going through the work her student had done so far. They worked on edifying her students work and making sure her essay aligned with the task notification. They went through the common mod syllabus to make sure she was using syllabus words throughout the essay. They then started to plan what she would need to do to finish the assessment task.

They worked through any questions her student had. They also went through her students homework from last session, which was to work on the essay.

It was great to hear Kate’s explanation of the text and her advice. Her explanation was very clear and detailed. She also made sure her student stayed focused and engaged with the topic for the whole session. When her student got distracted, she would guide her back on track.

It was great to see how engaged Kate’s student was. Kate’s student was doing a great job answering all of her questions. When her student got stuck, Kate for a great job explaining to her why the sentences didn’t flow properly or make sense.

Kate did a great job helping her student pick appropriate quotes and techniques. She would ask her student to determine wha technique the quote uses and the to analyse the impact of the technique. If her student needed help, Kate would do a great job explaining it to her student so that she could understand how to apply a technique and to analyse it herself.

Overall, Kate did a great job helping her student. It was a great session and such a pleasure to observe. Keep it up!

Ashley Cohen

Tutoring Year 10 English involves guiding students through a crucial stage in their academic development, where analytical thinking, independent learning, and effective communication begin to take centre stage. At this level, students are expected to engage more deeply with texts, exploring complex themes, language techniques, and contextual influences. A tutor’s role is to help them build the confidence and skills needed to meet these expectations while fostering a genuine appreciation for literature and purposeful writing.
One of the most valuable aspects of tutoring Year 10 English is supporting students in developing strong analytical reading skills. Many students can identify techniques, but they often struggle to explain how these techniques shape meaning. Through modelling detailed responses, breaking down exemplar paragraphs, and guiding students to form clear, well-supported interpretations, a tutor can help them progress from simple observations to sophisticated analysis. Close reading exercises, scaffolded questions, and discussions about authorial intent all contribute to strengthening these skills.
Writing is another key component at this level, and tutoring provides an opportunity to refine a student’s ability to produce coherent, compelling work across a range of forms. Whether crafting analytical essays, persuasive speeches, or creative pieces, students benefit from learning how to structure their ideas logically, vary their language choices, and edit their work effectively. Focused feedback, practise with planning, and targeted skill-building—such as improving thesis statements or sharpening vocabulary—can dramatically improve a student’s written expression.
Equally important is helping students prepare for assessments. Many Year 10 students feel overwhelmed by exam-style questions or timed writing tasks. A tutor can ease this pressure by teaching strategies for unpacking questions, planning under time constraints, and approaching tasks with clarity and confidence.
Ultimately, tutoring Year 10 English is about more than improving grades. It’s about equipping students with the critical thinking, communication skills, and self-belief that will support them not only in senior English but throughout their academic journey.

Angelique Lambrinos