Exams and revision articles

For the first time ever, KS1 SATs for Year 2 children are now optional. However, despite this change, numerous schools have decided to continue with them. What does this mean for your child's education? Matt Revill, a seasoned primary headteacher, dives into the latest updates in this week's School Savvy blog.

In 2023, the news was rife with stories about the alarming difficulty of the KS2 SATs reading paper. Matt Revill, seasoned headteacher and educator, dissects the controversy and provides helpful advice for this year's Year 6 children and parents.

What role does short-term working memory play in children’s learning, and how can you help your child use it to their advantage? Steve Garnett, author of Cognitive Load Theory: A Handbook for Teachers, explains what parents need to know about working memory.

Whether your child is just learning to read and print letters or looking for ways to put their creative writing skills to the test, we've rounded up some fantastic resources to help them practise phonics, grammar, story-writing and comic-creating at home. Plus there are loads of different ways to connect with authors and listen to stories.

We've rounded up some of our favourite online resources to support your child's learning at home.

Everybody learns differently, and many children struggle with traditional approaches to studying. Barbara Oakley and Terrence Sejnowski, authors of Learning How to Learn: A Guide for Kids and Teens, shine a light on creative (but neuroscience-backed) methods to help your child learn and think about learning differently.

Were age-related expectations mentioned on your child's report? We explain the targets children are asked to meet by the end of their primary school journey.

We take a look at the work of the Independent Schools Examination Board and the tests it sets.

Help your child do verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning practice to prepare for the grammar school entrance exam with these useful apps.

They’re used to ensure schools admit pupils across a range of abilities, but how do banding tests actually work?

With increasing numbers of children suffering the effects of test anxiety, how can you help your child keep their nerves under control?

Want to help your child remember dates, formulae, tricky vocabulary and more? Memory champion Chester Santos has a few tips to share to help boost their confidence (and amaze their parents and teachers!).

If you’re investing in a tutor for your child, you’ll want to get your money’s worth. We explain how to make the most of tutoring.

Your child has done all their prep, and now the big day is looming. How can they make sure they do their best?

Places at selective and super-selective schools are highly sought after, with many applicants for every place – but what's the difference between these types of school, and how does the application process work?

An English task is a key part of the 11+ exam in many areas, but what does the test actually involve?

Kent has more grammar schools than any other area, so how can you give your child the best chances of gaining a place?

What could a grammar school offer your child, and how does the application process work? We explain in our grammar school guide for primary-school parents.

Common Entrance exams are the route to an independent senior school education for many children. We explain what’s involved.