Why do students struggle to achieve their full potential?

GCSE, IGCSE and A-level exams have changed and have got tougher in most subjects, but the ones that seem to be taking a big hit are Science and Maths according to the BBC as “There was a big fall in pupils getting top grades in the sciences, following the introduction of new syllabuses and exams”.

Michael Turner, director of JCQ, said “There are many underlying factors affecting GCSEs, including a sizeable increase in entry by 15-year-olds, new science specifications designed with greater challenge, early and multiple entry in mathematics.”

It is obvious that things have changed in the education landscape in Britain and across the world and that more changes are likely to be introduced in the race to compete against the top scoring countries, but who is ultimately affected in this uncertain period are the students. It was reported by the BBC that an increasing number of learners ends their school days with poor grades and inadequate skills that will not allow them to compete in an increasingly demanding work environment. Attaining good grades at GCSE and A-level is important in the life of every teenager, as it is one, if not the, most important factor to secure a good job as they grow up and become adults.

Why we can make the difference

Our young people are crowded in large classes, sometimes with more than 35 students, where learning can become a struggle for many. Some children will do very well in whatever environment they are, but those who are more easily led by distractions, or that lack the confidence to ask questions in front of their peers, will find the typical class size a big hurdle to their learning, hence to achieving the results they are capable of and that they deserve.

Then, there are those students who have lots of questions and who are keen to interact with their teacher, but for a number of reasons (often because of poor discipline in large classes) they cannot get the full attention of their teachers. And, lets face it, who can give 100% attention to 30 odd kids whom they see for a few hours per week? Teachers are highly skilled professional, but they are still human and dedicating the right amount of time to each learner is often an impossible task in formal education.

This is why the Centre for STEM Learning works only with highly qualified teachers who have extensive experience of teaching exam classes. Our tutors are experts in their subjects and have a thorough understanding of GCSE, IGCSE and A-level examinations (many of them are Examiners too). In addition, we work with small classes both face to face at our venue and online through effective tools. This is the ideal setting to ensure maximum learning! So, our students are not intimidated by being one to one with a tutor and there is no temptation for neither tutor, nor learner, to spoon feed the right answers without meaningful learning. Also, having other students in the group allows all pupils to engage in more active learning activities and for the tutors to plan for more collaborative tasks that help building confidence and skills in their students.

So, If you are a parent, or a student, who needs tuition, contacts us to hear more about our rates and our outstanding teaching methods and tools.