How to help your child manage anxiety around tests
Test anxiety is a common experience and can be a difficult challenge for both children and parents. As a parent, it’s important to recognise the signs of stress and provide practical support to help your child manage their anxiety during the exam period.
The importance of study skills at secondary school
Study skills are essential for secondary school students, yet they often don’t receive the attention they deserve.
10 ways to improve your child’s creative writing skills
Creative writing is a powerful tool for children to express themselves, fuel their imagination, and build confidence.
A Grand British Adventure
Thoughts from a legal & educational perspective for families making the move to the U.K.
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.
Oppidan in Spain
After a brilliant launch with one of the Affinitas schools, Xabia International College, in 2024 we expanded our partnership to four schools within the group in Spain.
The Marlborough College admissions process
Nestled in the Wiltshire countryside, Marlborough College stands as one of the UK’s most prestigious independent schools.
Oppidan in Thailand
Oppidan are delighted to have launched in Thailand, starting two groundbreaking programmes with Rugby School, Thailand near Pattaya and Wellington College, Bangkok.
School Impact 2023/24
This Impact Report evidences a successful year of delivery from the team, standing as legacy to hard-fought progress, innovation and results for Oppidan’s work in schools. I wanted to share my personal takeaways from a happy year in 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.