Do you want to make a flying start to the new school year? Here are my top tips for September!
Ah, September! Season of mists! For me it conjures up images of leaves falling from trees, chequed blazers, and - ooh - millions of UK students returning to the classroom. Maybe this is a prospect that excites you, or perhaps the thought of returning to your studies fills you with dread. Either way, here are my top 5 tips for making a flying start to the new school year. Enjoy!
Get organised.
Yes, to some extent this means hoarding new stationery and packing your bag the night before, but being organised is so much more than that. The first thing I’d advise any student should do when starting a course is to find out the exam board and specification for everything they are studying. A good teacher will tell their students this information in the first lesson, but you might also be able to find it on your school or college website, or online learning platform. If you really don’t know - ask! Your teacher is there to help and will be impressed by your get up and go. Then make sure you head to the exam boards website where you can find detailed specifications outlining the topics you need to understand, as well as past exam papers, example answers and examiners reports. Make sure you file these away carefully - whether that be digitally or in paper format. These documents will be invaluable when you come to prepare for your assessments later on and you’ll want to be able to find them quickly!Set and work towards your goals.
In my view September is a fantastic time to reflect upon the year so far and think about where you would like to be in another years time. It’s really important to understand your strengths and weaknesses. You probably already have many strengths, but it’s useful to reflect on how you could do better. Perhaps you’re falling behind in a particular subject. Maybe you’re guilty of producing poor quality, rushed homework. Or, you might be one of those students who is so distracted they find it hard to stay focused on what they need to do. The good news is everything is fixable with a bit of effort. Ask yourself what you want to achieve this academic year. Would you like to improve your grades? Secure some impressive work experience? Make a successful university application? Then you need to make a commitment. Give yourself a time-frame and break your goals down into small steps. My planning for success printable can help you with this - you can find it on the student resources section of this website.Make the most of your friends and allies.
Schools and colleges are busy places full of busy people, but it’s important to remember that even if they seem rushed and unapproachable the staff are on your side. They want you to succeed and are there to help. Get to know your teachers and don’t be afraid to ask them if you are stuck. You’d be surprised by how many students reach out for help, and I don’t know a single colleague who has ever said ‘no’ to helping one of their pupils. In the past my students have asked for extra reading, clarification of key parts of the specification, and for feedback on extra essays they have written. It might have taken me a day or two, but I’ve never once turned a student down. And, whilst we’re at it, let’s talk friends. Lots of people are great company, but that alone doesn’t make them a great friend. A great friend wants the best for you - they wouldn’t encourage you to skip class, or ditch your homework (or worse) when they know you want to succeed. So, I’m not saying don’t hang out with any rebels - just know that the successful student is the one that has the confidence to take the actions that will help them to achieve their long-term goals.Go above and beyond.
Trust me - this isn’t as arduous as it sounds! I’m not asking you to give up on your social life in order to spend all night, every night studying (I wouldn’t dare). But, the number of students who do the bare minimum and then are perplexed about why they are only achieving average results astounds me. If you want to be better, you need to do more. Spending a mere 15-20 extra minutes per week on each of your subjects can yield huge results. Use that time wisely - make revision quizzes, read around the subject, watch a documentary or two. You certainly won’t regret having done this when your exams roll around!Look after your mental and physical well-being.
This isn’t an add on - it’s a necessity. There’s very little point in having a brilliant mind if you are so tired that you can’t think, or so anxious that you can’t put pen to paper in an exam. Not to mention the fact that you deserve to be happy and well within yourself! The last year has hit people hard, especially young people. Make sure you carve out time for exercise that you enjoy. Make sure you nourish your body with healthy food. Keep your fluids up. Get enough sleep. Be kind to yourself and don’t talk yourself down. And - most importantly - reach out if you are struggling. Know who you can talk to at school or college. Identify your Head of Year, the pastoral leads, and the counsellor. All of them are there to help you. Or, if you are struggling and feel there is no one to talk to at school or home contact your GP or an organisation like Young Minds. Make sure you look out for your friends too - everyone needs help now and then and having support can make all the difference.
Wishing you all the best for the new school year!