The last year has been, without a doubt, one of the most challenging years ever for students and teachers alike. Many children have had to adjust to a completely new learning environment, while tutors have had to find ways to make the syllabus fit around the new normal.
There are, through no fault of anyone, sizeable gaps in knowledge that students are looking to fill. We’re dubbing it The Big Catch Up; we all need to work together to help students of all ages to catch up and build confidence ready for exams & getting back to normality.
At Amplius, we know how daunting The Big Catch Up might seem. We’re here to help – our tutors have put together this article to run through what’s happened, what to look out for and how we can collaborate to help our children to excel.
Why Have Students Fallen Behind?
While tutors have done everything in their power to adjust their teaching methods to the pandemic, infrastructure wasn’t in place for something this unprecedented. There were several months where much of tutors energy was put into working out how best to teach, rather than actually delivering lessons.
In addition to this, extended periods of absence from school through closures all need to be accounted for when looking to catch up.
With a whole host of mixed messages from the government, many students have been left consistently uncertain of what they should be doing and what’s going to happen next. Exams have been on, then cancelled; holidays might or might not be allowed, schools have been unclear on whether grades will be teacher assessed or from sitting exams – the list goes on.
What are the Impacts of Falling Behind?
As we look at life returning to normal, it’s important to be aware of the affect that falling behind can have on a student. Falling behind academically can have a knock-on effect. This can vary a fair amount depending on the age of the student.
- Younger students might miss out on foundational skills that are important for trickier topics as they move up through key stages.
- Students in transitional years (such as year 10/11) may struggle without distinct exam prep and experience.
When we work with a child who has fallen behind, oftentimes we find that we need to take a step back to find out what’s missing. Trying to force learning with a student who is missing foundational skills can result in diminished confidence and frustration. If left unchecked, these issues can compound and snowball, growing to be far bigger than they needed to be.
Who’s Most Affected?
While all children are affected, those in exam years have been hit particularly hard.
Students in years 11 and 13 are working through difficult times. As all exams have been cancelled, teachers will be deciding grades based on work done in lesson, as well as coursework and assessments. As a result of this, many students in exam years have been left feeling out of sorts, uncertain and worried, as all of the preparation that they’ve done for years might now be irrelevant. Year 11 students might also struggle in their chosen A-level subjects as they have not learnt the full syllabus.
In addition, students in years 10 and 12 are equally impacted. Their exams will (most likely) be going ahead still in 2022, despite the large academic gap that the pandemic has caused. Students in this age group not only have missed out on valuable learning time, but also on crucial exam technique prep.
What Can We Do to Help?
As this is completely unprecedented, not much else could have been done over the last 12 months, but it’s important that the catch-up starts in earnest, and that it starts now.
Children should understand that it’s not their fault if they’re struggling with something that perhaps they hadn’t struggled with in the past, or if they are finding topics more difficult than they had before. One of the most important steps to take is to reassure children that every other student in the country is going through the same thing, and that it’ll just take a little time to get back on the horse.
Remember that the catch-up isn’t over when the academic year finishes. Students excel when supported both in term time and through the holidays. Especially now, schools and teachers are struggling to cope with the increased demand put on them – days aren’t going to be extended and holidays aren’t going to be shortened.
Extra help is always available to get children back up to speed, improve confidence and reduce worry. Private tutors are the perfect complement to school, designed to build on knowledge and fill in gaps so that students can feel ready for school. Finding the right private tutor is important; every child is different and will require a unique approach.
Catch Up with Tailored Online Tuition from Amplius Learning
Experts in online tutoring, at Amplius Learning we know what it takes to help our students to catch up. Our tutors are hand-picked and matched to students based on their learning needs, style and required outcomes to guarantee effective learning.
Every child can benefit from some extra support, especially after last year. No matter the age of your child, get in touch with us today to chat with one of our qualified tutors. We’re here to create a tailored learning plan to help your children through The Big Catch Up.