Our latest education related articles

Homework is essential in reinforcing student’s learning and teaching them study skills. It’s natural to want to help your child with their homework and to want them to do it well, even to do it perfectly. But the question of how to help can be tricky. Curriculums are updated all the time. You may not have studied the same topics or subjects. Luckily, you don’t need to be the expert – or even have the right answers. The most impactful way you can support your child is not to show them exactly how to do their homework, but rather to encourage them to learn how to tackle it themselves. This allows them to become confident in dealing with unfamiliar questions, resolving difficulties and finding solutions – skills essential for adult life. The best way to help your child to learn how to learn depends on their age as children need structure whilst teenagers require more independence. Here are five ways to make your support count at every stage. 

Attending a summer school or summer course can be an unforgettable experience for students and is a fantastic opportunity to learn and gain new skills whilst meeting new friends. There are a huge range of summer school options available which can sometimes be quite overwhelming. We thought it would be helpful to answer some frequently asked questions and list some of our recommendations for summer schools in this article.

Increasingly, families are choosing homeschooling for a variety of reasons, including the need for greater flexibility, personalised academic support, or a learning environment better suited to their child’s individual needs and goals. 

When structured effectively, homeschooling can offer a highly tailored educational experience, allowing students to learn at their own pace, focus on areas of interest, and build confidence through individualised teaching. However, it also raises important questions around curriculum choices, exam access, timetabling, and social opportunities, topics that parents should carefully consider before making the transition. 

In this article Poppy Dundas, Keystone’s Head of Homeschooling, answers some frequently asked questions about homeschooling with Keystone Tutors.

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.

Deciding whether to pursue postgraduate study is a significant step, with many factors to consider - from choosing the right course to navigating applications and funding. In this article, Jenny McGowan, one of Keystone's experienced University Consultants, shares her insights on the benefits of further study, application strategies and key tips for making an informed decision. 

The UK education system can be confusing, especially for international families whose children are being educated elsewhere. This blog aims to give an overview of the system and to define the key terms you might see when conducting research.

Before reading the rest of the blog do take a look at our Educational Roadmap linked here, which will allow you to determine which UK school year your child is in. The age cut-off date is September 1st in the UK – e.g. if your child is 10 years-old on September 1st, turning 11 during the academic year, they will be in UK Year 6.

Over the years Keystone has successfully helped many families in their search for suitable independent schools for their children through our Schools Advisory Service. We have outlined the key points that you should consider when looking for a school for your child and where to find the information in this article. 

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. 

To assist teachers and students in making online lessons as productive as possible we have put together this infographic on the ground rules that students should follow for online learning.

In light of the Covid-19 school closures we thought it would be helpful to list some of our key recommendations when it comes to making home-schooling a success.

Keystone has today published a report that analyses the education backgrounds of individuals who feature in Who's Who and Who Was Who. Analysing 66,000 datapoints from the Who's Who database we have been able to see some fascinating the trends as to which schools are educating the "nation's elite".

UK independent schools tend to have defined entry points and clear processes from registration to assessment and interview.

Keystone Director of Education, Ed Richardson is joined by Andrew Mackenzie, Managing Director of Africa and Asia Venture – experts in GAP year travel for over 25 years and Dr Jonathan Burbidge, housemaster and teacher at St Edward's School. Here they will be discussing the possibilities of a gap year and how this might be different from the normal in the context of Coronavirus.