I think a lot of people take for granted how much of an art revision is. Especially for parents going through their first round of exams with their children, it can be a tricky time as it’s hard to know what to advise.

Learning from institutions who have revision sorted is really useful, which is why I’m really glad that the Taunton Sixth Form in Somerset have provided these great tips for anyone approaching exams this summer!

Happy International Women’s Day 2019. I’d like to talk about boys.

Hear me out.

I’m currently running a mini experiment at work. In one of my schools, I’ve been running a boys’ club where every week over pizza, we discuss things like mental health, next steps and finance. I ran it with 9 students and it’s been really successful. I had almost perfect attendance and when I see the boys in the corridors they beg for more sessions (even requesting what they’d like to learn about next, proving that it’s not just about pizza). Through evaluation forms, they told me that it was a safe place for them to discuss things, and that they feel more confident as a result of the club.

As of June 2019, fees for tenants will become illegal, lifting a financial burden for future renters in the UK. Having just paid £500 in fees to an agent I didn’t choose (who is more expensive than other agents in the area), I couldn’t be happier that people in the future will be spared this pain.

Then, through Instagram, I came to learn of the person who made this new law happen.

It was a woman, named Vicky Spratt.

I don’t know what I had previously thought people who fight for laws look like (actually, I do. I expected them to look like white men in their 50s). But when I saw Vicky’s face, I suddenly felt empowered. Even women like me can do things to make laws and change lives.

The Chrismtas holidays have magical transformational powers. What was once a carefree year 11 is now a stressed out worrier with a twitch. What was a slightly concerned parent is now someone with insomnia, unable to sleep through thoughts of their teenager on the streets because they didn’t get their level 4 in maths.

This week I have had not one but three requests from parents of year 11s to have a sit down and “talk some sense” into their teen. It seems there is a great need for help in this area, so I thought I’d write some tips to help. If you’re a parent/carer/guardian of a teen who’s a bit too chill for their upcoming exams, hold on to the end and I may be able to help some more.