Month: October 2022

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ADHD Awareness Month 2022

Many of our tutors have been trained to help students across the special educational needs spectrum, including ADHD. The insight below briefly describes ADHD, before outlining how our tailored approach helps each student meet and exceed their educational goals.

 

What is ADHD?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects people’s ability to concentrate on a single task for long periods of time. ADHD is mostly diagnosed when children are aged 3 to 7, but it can be diagnosed later on in childhood and also in adulthood.

Students with ADHD in the past have frequently been labelled as troublemakers, however, discourse is slowly changing, and both research and history show that many strengths are associated with ADHD. From presidents to painters, and actors to musicians, the world has been enlightened by those with ADHD and will continue to be. With specific regards to the founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates; physician Albert Einstein; and polymath Leonardo Di Vinci.

ADHD in UK Schools

ADHD occurs in approximately 2-5% of schoolchildren in the UK. Students with ADHD have been stereotyped as easily distracted, often making careless mistakes, and disrupting the classroom. These students who have been wrongly stereotyped and who are also undiagnosed may feel isolated from their peers. However, the strengths associated with ADHD, and neurodiversity in general, can often help a student thrive in school.

Tutoring Students with ADHD

ADHD is increasingly seen as a unique way to unlock excellence. Our tutors recognise the ability to hyperfocus on tasks with enthusiasm, constantly acting upon curiosity, creativity, and intuitive thinking, abilities which are overlooked by many. With a wide range of tutors who have worked with pupils with ADHD, our tutors understand how to access this untapped potential.

Think Tutors investigate how the student learns best for both personal and academic growth. From bespoke learning plans to advice on independent schools that are best suited for your child’s needs, we pride ourselves on working with elite educational professionals to maximise learning and growth. We assess students’ current ability, identifying strengths and areas for improvement to provide purposeful tuition. Overall, we and our tutors place high importance on the students’ welfare to foster a healthy and happy learning environment for your child.

Contact Think Tutors

With a 100% school admission success rate, our teachers are adept at enhancing performance through repetition, careful preparation, and confidence building. Please get in touch with us if you’re interested in finding a tutor to help your child feel confident and succeed in their studies.

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School Admissions Topical

Independent School of the Year: Epsom College

The honour is a true reflection of the first-class education that the school offers to its pupils. The winner is judged by a panel who assesses schools across the country who were shortlisted for one of the 22 award categories from the awarding association. Whoever impresses them the most overall is subsequently named School of the Year Winner.

 

Academic Excellence

 

At a co-educational independent school based in Surrey, from ages 11 to 18, pupils can experience an exceptional student experience in combination with achieving academic excellence. Impressively, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) assessed the educational quality of the school and made “no recommendations” for future improvement.

 

Epsom is an institution that shines in several areas, from well-being to SEND support, to extraordinary GCSE and A Level results. Their academic success was exemplified in the last set of league tables published by the Department of Education, which ranked the school in the top 1% nationally. Over 70% of their students’ progress to their first-choice Russell Group university, and in 2022, three students were accepted into Cambridge and a further ten went on to study medicine.

 

Charitable Roots

 

The aims of the institution have always been charitable. They were awarded with royal approval in 1855, and Queen Victoria herself was the first patron. Dr. Propert’s (the school’s founder) vision was to educate children, provide financial assistance, and provide a home for widowed families and older members of the medical community. To this day, the school upholds Propert’s legacy and continues to offer pensions to retired doctors and their families in financial hardship.

 

More recently, the Telegraph published an article which showcased Epsom’s commitment to upholding its historic aims. During the national lockdown, the school provided free accommodation to NHS workers in the utility of their boarding houses. In addition to this kind gesture, they collected donations, manufactured PPE, and helped to distribute the roll out of vaccinations.

 

Epsom Entrance

 

Epsom has become increasingly competitive at entry points 11, 13, 14, and 16+. Furthermore, with its recent achievement as the best independent school, it is set to become even harder to be admitted into the school.

 

As Epsom encourages both UK and international applications, Think Tutors has a global network with tutors around the world to help. In search of ‘all-rounders’ with exceptional entrance scores (Verbal Reasoning scores tend to be around 118-120), guidance from Think Tutors will ensure that your child attends the acclaimed best school in the country. Think Tutors is highly skilled at providing tutors both in the UK and overseas, and would therefore be extremely well-suited to ensuring success for any child, at any level.

 

How can Think Tutors help?

 

At Think Tutors, with the assistance of the highly qualified tutors that we can offer, your child will reach success. Organising tuition or mentoring with one of Think Tutors elite tutors or mentors is an excellent way to gain an advantage in the application process. With a 100% success rate for school entrance, our tutors are experts at improving results through practice, comprehensive planning and confidence building. If you are interested in finding a tutor to ensure that your child feels confident enough to perform in their entrance exams, please contact us.

 

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Topical

Fun Investments into Education

Masterclass and Short Classes at the National Youth Theatre 

The NYT provides incredible opportunities for teenagers to explore drama, theatre, and acting through their masterclasses and short classes. Options are available online or in person. Their ‘Start-Up’ programme, for instance, encourages young people to develop their potential (on and off the stage) by exploring a range of topics across storytelling, devising theatre, movement, music, and character. It’s BBC approved and, at Think Tutors, we highly recommend it too.

100 Days of Code: The Complete Python Pro Bootcamp for 2022 – Udemy

The opportunities for self-directed and assisted learning online are practically endless. With over 54 million students and 204,000 courses, Udemy is a well-recognised education company operating at the leading edge of online learning. Given coding’s importance as the language of innovation and technology, one of Udemy’s many coding-related courses could be the perfect gift for your gifted child.

Oculus Educational Apps

The Oculus range of VR headsets is pioneering 3D educational apps for the 21st century. Exploring everything from human anatomy and Rembrandt to chemistry and Anne Frank’s house, the opportunities to view educational content beyond the limits of a textbook or Google images is astounding. This is an excellent gift for children who adore technology and are insatiably curious.

Shakespeare’s Globe

Shakespeare’s plays may be read the world over, but not everyone gets the opportunity to live and breathe the reconstructed atmosphere of where they were originally performed. Seeing one of Shakespeare’s plays at The Globe is the perfect way to bring the bard alive for his youngest fans, but it can also be beneficial for those who are struggling to understand his work. It is also because there are plenty of resources available on site to help such students better understand both the playwright and his plays. Indeed, Shakespeare’s Globe is well worth a trip to London on its own merits or when coupled with other adventures.

Bespoke Experiences at the Royal Observatory

You don’t need to live near the Royal Observatory in Greenwich to explore the night sky; indeed, there are thousands of observatories around the world that welcome public interest and youth participation. But, if you do happen to live in Britain, a bespoke tour of the Royal Observatory would be well worth it. There, you can arrange for your own private planetarium show and collaborate with professional astronomers to conduct your own observations using telescopes. For those who can’t make it there in person, there are online opportunities as well. These include virtual fireside chats with expert Royal Observatory astronomers as they transport you from your home to the outer edges of the universe.

Personalised Tours of Oxford and Cambridge

Our team of industry-leading tutors are available to curate bespoke educational outings for children, teenagers, and parents alike. With institutional connections to many leading museums, institutes, and universities, we can provide personalised tours by leading professionals and academics. Likewise, with dozens of our tutors having studied at Oxford and Cambridge, Think Tutors are incredibly well positioned to guide an aspiring applicant on a behind the scenes tour of many of the most famous and interesting colleges.

How can Think Tutors help?

At Think Tutors, with the assistance of the highly qualified tutors that we can offer, your child will achieve success. A number of our tutors and mentors are vastly experienced in working with multiple students from a range of backgrounds. If you are interested in finding a tutor to ensure that your child not only surpasses their academic targets but feels excited by education, please do get in touch.

 

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School Admissions

Admissions Guide: Entry to St Paul’s School at 7 and 8+

Based in central London, St Paul’s have a long-standing reputation for both delivering a world-class education and producing students with a truly global outlook. First founded in 1509 by the Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral, John Colet, by 1870 it was named as one of the ‘nine great public schools’ of England. The high standards have been maintained until present day, with the school consistently achieving excellent results at both GCSE and A Level. With a focus on pursuing academic excellence, the school devotes time to consider how they can help the boys leave St Paul’s as well-rounded individuals with an understanding of the world they live in.

 

As a prestigious and highly ranked independent school, the rush to join St Paul’s school can be frantic. With just fifty-four places available at 7+ and a meagre eighteen places available at 8+, entry to St Paul’s is extremely competitive. As 7 and 8+ entry into the school is closed for 2023, parents must look ahead to 2024 to ensure that their son can have the best chance of a successful admission into the school. Junior school entrance cements a better chance of progression into the senior school at 13+, as the child is automatically registered for transfer to St Paul’s at 13+, on the condition that they have stayed at the Junior School for the full duration of their studies. The next available year for 13+ entry is 2026. Consequently, admission at an earlier entry is imperative.

 

Stage 1: Registration and References

 

The first step of the process is to register via an online registration form, expressing your interest and ambition for your child to attend. Registration will open on the 10th October 2022 for entry into 2024 and an early registration is suggested as spaces will fill up quickly. In applying, you will be asked and required to upload a copy of your son’s passport and submit a payment of £175 in the form of a non-refundable registration fee. St Paul’s requires that both parents agree to the application, in the exception in the case of sole custody. After applying, St Paul’s will then contact your son’s current school for a reference (consent is given to St Paul’s to contact for references by applying).

 

Stage 2: Examinations

 

The assessment will be a compilation of examinations that will test your child’s current academic level and potential. Candidates will set tests in English, Mathematics and Reasoning. The assessment days for 2024 entry will be early December, for those sitting the 7+ entrance exams and early January, for those who sit the 8+ exams.

 

At Think Tutors, we can offer a range of tutors from all backgrounds to guide you and your child to success in the 7 and 8+ entry at any independent school, including St Paul’s. We provide tuition that is unrivalled, bespoke and attuned to each individual child and their family. Think Tutors will elevate your child’s confidence while improving their foundational knowledge and understanding.

 

Stage 3: Assessment, Interview and Offer

 

Successful boys will be invited back for half-day group assessments. The day will include a Maths and English lesson, alongside a group problem solving task. This day can be difficult for children and so preparation is vital for increased chance of success and acceptance. During this day, the parents will have the opportunity to meet with the Head of St Paul’s Juniors, Oliver Snowball. The assessment day should take place within two weeks of the written test stage and following this stage, successful applicants will be made an offer. Boys are accepted to St Paul’s Juniors on the understanding that St Paul’s will be their first choice of senior school.

 

How can Think Tutors help?

 

At Think Tutors, with the assistance of the highly qualified tutors that we can offer, your child will reach success. Organising tuition or mentoring with one of Think Tutors elite tutors or mentors is an excellent way to gain an advantage in the application process. With a 100% success rate for school entrance, our tutors are experts at improving results through practice, comprehensive planning and confidence building. If you are interested in finding a tutor to ensure that your child feels confident and can ease through entrance exams, please contact us.