How to help your child revise for GCSEs over Christmas
If you’re supporting your child with their GCSE revision over the Christmas break, this guide will help you navigate the process and ensure they make the most of their time.
What are different schools doing with VAT?
What proportion of VAT are schools passing on to parents? This article does not set out to argue in favour or against the introduction of VAT on private school fees.
Top 10 Hardest Oxbridge Interview Questions
We asked our top Oxbridge-education mentors the hardest question they were asked in their interviews:
ADHD in children and what parents can do to help
With ADHD being one of the most common neuropsychiatric and behavioural disorders in children and young people, it is essential for us to think about best practices to support pupils both at home and at school.
Oracy: it’s time to walk the walk
It has been heartening to see oracy education finally take up more space in the national discourse. Charlotte Harmer, Head of Education here at Oppidan, takes a further look.
The Marlborough College admissions process
Nestled in the Wiltshire countryside, Marlborough College stands as one of the UK’s most prestigious independent schools.
Preparing for the gig economy
Nearly 70% of Gen-Zers are either freelancers or plan to do so in the future, according to freelancing platform Fiverr. For many of you parents mulling that statistic, it really is a remarkable shift in the makeup of the economy you’re used to.
Children, smartphones and schools
Should children under the age of 15 be banned from using smartphones? When thinking of Eton College, its prestige and academic excellence often come to mind, yet its approach to pastoral care may not be immediately apparent. Therefore, the recent decision by the school to prohibit new students from bringing smartphones and instead provide them with “bricks” marks a significant and positive step in addressing the issue of smartphone use among children in our society.
Family Survey 2024
We surveyed 330 new families that work with us, asking them about their experience with Oppidan and how effective mentoring has been for their children.
The tale of two Joannas
On a recent 1:1 mentoring day at a sixth form college in London, everyone got a bit confused.
89% of Oppidan students received offers from their preferred choice of school in 2024
In 2024, we are proud to say that nearly nine in 10 of the students we mentored on the 11+ Journey received an offer from their preferred school, including some of the UK’s leading independent schools.
Simon Boas’s lessons on character
Inspired by an article in the Jersey Evening Post, Pro Mentor Jack Dolbey wrote to cancer sufferer Simon Boas to discuss three key aspects of character.
Griselda Kerr: Get your children gardening
Griselda Kerr, author and co-founder Walter’s mother, discusses the art of gardening ahead of the summer months and how to get your your children to fall in love with the great outdoors.
Cat’s Corner: The ultimate timeline of 11+ assessment 2024/25
Welcome to Cat’s Corner, a series that guides parents through the murky waters of school applications and the 11+ assessment.
The Ingredients of Mentoring
We recently onboarded our Spring 2024 cohort of mentees and spent some time sharing the ingredients of mentoring with them.
How do we create our mentoring content?
Schools and parents always ask us: how do we actually create our mentoring content?
April Fool’s Day: The Confidence Pill
Pharmaceuticals industry here we come! Well, not quite. Here’s how our April Fool’s campaign came to be.
How to win an ad hoc place at secondary school
An ad hoc (or occasional) place happens when a child enters a school outside the traditional year groups for admission.
What happens if VAT is charged on school fees?
Much has been made in the news recently about the future for private schools.
So, what’s happening?