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Guide to IB Revision Techniques
When to begin IB revision? IB exams begin as early as late April for some subjects, and your revision perhaps begins in earnest with your mock exams, which generally take place early in your final year of IB study. Revising for mocks will give you an opportunity to test what it is like to revise course material you’ve already covered, and rehearse some of the revision techniques that will become so crucial later on in the year.
Guide to A Level English Literature
Is English Literature a good A Level subject? Studying English Literature at A Level is a fantastic option for those who have enjoyed English at GCSE and want to take their study to the next level. But be under no illusions that this is a step up - in terms of the knowledge you will be required to retain and process, the language you will be required to use, and the general ‘seriousness’ of the course. And examinations.
Webinar: Gap Years
In this webinar, Keystone's Managing Director, Ed Richardson, was joined by Helen Hawkins, Head of Marketing at Raleigh International, to discuss options for Gap Years. Their discussion covered some of the pros and cons of taking a gap year, different gap year opportunities and the impact of a gap year on university application.
Webinar: The Graduate Market
In this event Keystone's Managing Director, Ed Richardson, was joined by James Darley, the Founder and CEO of Transform Society, to discuss graduate employment.
A Guide to Cheltenham Ladies’ College Admissions
Cheltenham Ladies’ College has been educating girls for 170 years. Its GCSE and A Level results are consistently excellent and the College is regularly named the top boarding school for IB in the country. Cheltenham Ladies’ College emphasises a well-rounded education, where co-curricular pursuits and contribution to the school community are weighed equally with academic achievement. The College admits a mixture of boarders and day pupils and there are three points of entry: 11+, 13+ and 16+.
A Guide to Latymer Upper School Admissions
Latymer Upper is one of the leading co-ed day schools in the country. Founded in 1624, the Latymer Foundation celebrates its 400th anniversary in 2024. With a proud history of social inclusivity, Latymer Upper educates 1400 girls and boys from a diverse range of backgrounds, offering a rigorous and stimulating education. It prides itself on being a ‘learning school’, with a strong emphasis on innovation and combining the best of the traditional and the modern.
Is single sex education better than co-educational?
One of the key considerations when choosing a school for your child is whether they should be educated in a single sex or co-ed environment. Some schools cater only for boys or girls; others are co-educational throughout or in just the sixth form. Which is more suitable often depends on your own preference, the character of the individual child and the age of entry.
What is a good UKiset score?
What counts as a good UKiset score depends greatly on the school a candidate is applying to attend, and also varies according to the three sections of the test. The following points can act as a rough guide.
Guide to Selective Independent Schools in London
[image1h]What is a selective independent school?A selective school chooses its students on the basis of their academic ability, with a view to maintaining its own standard or reputation as an academic establishment. The best selective independent schools consistently top academic performance tables, when it comes to ranking schools according to GCSE and A Level results, and choose students who will not only perform brilliantly but contribute to the academic atmosphere of the place.
A Guide to Sevenoaks School Admissions
Founded in 1432, Sevenoaks is one of the leading IB schools in the UK and is also the second oldest non-denominational school in the country. Set in a 100-acre campus on the outskirts of Sevenoaks in Kent, the school boasts 30 buildings, 14 sports pitches and 12 lawns. It has a diverse international intake of more than 75 nationalities, with 21 per cent of leavers going to overseas universities.
7 Plus Past Papers
Past papers are a great resource for anyone preparing to take an exam, no matter how young.
Guide to A Level Drama & Theatre Studies
In this article, experienced Theatre Studies tutor Matthew Dann, addresses some common questions and concerns around A Level Theatre Studies, including, the advantages of studying Theatre Studies at A Level, the best subject combinations, and the relevance of the subject for future studies or careers. He also explores the key components of the A Level Theatre Studies curriculum and discusses effective revision techniques and his tips for getting a top grade in the subject.
What to look for when choosing a school if your child has a SEND?
What does the term SEND mean? The term "special educational needs and disabilities" constitutes a legal classification that encompasses children who encounter learning difficulties or disabilities that pose greater obstacles to their learning compared to the majority of children their age.
Non Selective Independent Schools in London
What are non-selective independent schools?At the heart of the idea of non-selective schooling is an understanding that children develop in different stages and learn in a wide range of different ways. Many schools ‘select’ a student at least partly on the basis of their performance in an entrance exam, and not all students – for a host of different reasons – will be ready or willing to perform on a given date.
The Harrow Test
Harrow School was founded during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and has a global reputation as an outstanding school. Distinguished writers, politicians from around the world, and Nobel laureates have all studied at Harrow.Securing a place at this highly selective school is a tough challenge, and you will find a number of key topics to do with the admissions process covered below. Keystone’s Founder and Director, Old Harrovian Will Orr-Ewing, also provides his insights into the process.
English Super Curricular Activities
In a world full of distractions, there are few more satisfying ways to spend your time than immersed in a good book. But studying literature at university is about more than wiling away your days in the company of great authors; it’s a rigorous and exacting discipline that will stretch the way you think about language and about art.
How to approach Shakespeare passages at GCSE
Shakespeare’s influence is everywhere. In fact, it’s so embedded in the English speaking world that it’s hard to see where it begins or ends. Firstly, there are the words, all 1,700 of them. And not just words like ‘congreeted’ and ‘coppernose’. Some of the most common words in English were first used by Shakespeare: ‘bedroom’, for instance, and ‘eyeball’. Then there are the phrases.
How to Write a Good GCSE & IGCSE Essay
Non-fiction essay writing is a skill that can sometimes evoke powerful feelings dread in students. This article hopes to provide all students with a solid base of essay writing knowledge to help improve student confidence and skills.The advice in this article has been written to be as applicable to as many subjects as possible. When using this article, be sure to check your Exam Board’s specification for each subject.
How to Get a 9 in GCSE Chemistry
How hard is it to get a 9 in GCSE Chemistry? GCSE Chemistry can be a nerve-wracking subject as it not only involves learning the content, but being able to apply it to experiments and the use of equations. But, getting a 9 is definitely not impossible! Around 15% of students get awarded a 9 at GCSE, with grade boundaries varying each year, fluctuating between requiring around 70-80%. In papers you should be aiming for at least 80%.
10 Common Questions on Homeschooling
Homeschooling has gained immense popularity in recent years, offering families an alternative approach to education that caters to their unique needs and aspirations. This rise has come as a result of many factors, one of which is of course the pandemic, as shown in this 2022 article by the BBC. In an article published in May 2023, The Guardian cited this rise and commented on the risk of those missing out on education through a lack of homeschooling structure.
Difficulties Schools Face in Staffing Languages Teaching at A Level in the UK
The teaching of languages at A Level is facing a number of challenges in the UK.
11+/13+ Admissions Requirements for UK Boarding Schools
UK boarding schools boast a long tradition of excellence in education. There are a number of options for boarding including:Weekly boarding: Students will live at school Monday to Friday and spend weekends with their parents.Flexi boarding: Parents can choose how many nights a student spends at school or at home.Full boarding: Students live at school all the time apart from exeat weekends (designated weekends each term where students can leave) and school holidays.
Psychology Super Curricular Activities
What are super curricular activities? Every student that applies to university will know something about psychology. They may have seen a true crime documentary about a serial killer, read an article about attachment styles, or even studied the subject at GCSE or A-level. But in order to convince universities to give you an offer for undergraduate study, you will need to go above and beyond this level, exploring the subject to a greater extent.
Webinar: Assessing and Supporting Children
Keystone's Head of Elective & Homeschooling, Poppy Dundas, was joined by Sarah Warley, Founder at The Key Clinic. Together they discussed the work that Sarah and her team do at The Key Clinic, getting to the root cause of a child's difficulties in order to unlock their full potential. They discussed this in relation to homeschooling and tutoring, and the common issues seen within children.To find out more about how Keystone can support with homeschooling, do follow this link.
The Importance of University League Tables
How important are University League Tables? University League Tables are not nearly as important as they are often believed to be. While it may be true that there are employability advantages if you attend Oxford, Cambridge, or another top institution (e.g. from the Russell Group), the biggest advantage you can give yourself is to study the right course for you at the institution that suits you best.
Children's Extra Curricular Clubs and Activities
Extra curricular activities are a great way to enrich the curriculm, and there are a range of activities that can complement an existing hobby or introduce your child to a new interest. Here is a list of recommendations of places we would suggest looking into in addition to your child’s academic lessons to enrich their learning. Please note these are not tried and tested by Keystone Tutors.
How to Get a 9 in GCSE Geography
How hard is it to get a 9 in GCSE Geography? Geography is often misperceived as an “easier”, less academic subject. I think one of the main reasons for this is that it is an interdisciplinary subject. Geography touches on lots of different subject areas (science, economics, politics, sociology etc.) so the depth on knowledge required in each aspect is not to the same level as if you were studying each component subject individually. However, beware of complacency.
Law Super Curricular Activities
What are ‘Super curriculars’? Super curricular activities are essentially extracurricular learning activities that are specifically related to your chosen course of study at university. They can include many different things, including experiences and academic research. Incorporating these in your personal statement, and using these experiences in your interviews, can really help improve your chances of being accepted onto your chosen law course.
History Super Curricular Activities
How do Super-curricular Activities help applicants to top Universities? Anybody can say that they have a passion for history and many people do. Most of us are interested in some aspect of the past, whether we are keen students of local history or the traditions associated with our favourite sport, or fascinated by a particular figure whom we have encountered in a book or historical drama on TV.
Top 5 Reasons to Choose Day School Over Boarding School
One of the key considerations when choosing a school for your child is between day school and boarding school. Would you like your child to be a day student, a full boarder or a weekly-boarder? To attend a day school, you would need to live nearby whereas boarding widens the geographical area for you to choose from.
