25th September 2026

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A-Levels (4) — All news (140) — Geography (3) — Technology (6) — Creativity (3) — Great tutor (3) — Stateside education (3) — Back-to-school (3) — Summer (6) — International Baccalaureate (4) — GCSEs (4) — Online tutoring (3) — Social media (2) — Interview (17) — 11-plus (6)

GCSE students have their say

25th July, 2018

With this year’s 16-year-olds the first to sit the majority of their GCSEs under the new system, we spoke to some of our Figtree students to find out how the changes affected them – and what year 10 pupils can do to prepare.
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The results are coming in

25th July, 2018

The stressful summer exam period is over, but following the introduction of a new GCSE assessment structure, many students are facing an anxious wait to results day.
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Test your trivia

25th July, 2018

Give your brain a workout this month with Figtree’s quick-fire quiz. Perfect for long car journeys or rainy afternoons, you’ll need the whole family to crack all twenty questions.
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Holidays are coming… But what’s the best way to spend them?

20th June, 2018

With the weather brightening and the end of term looming, thoughts are turning to that glorious two-month stretch of freedom. But as our lives get busier, and academic pressures increase, how do families make the most of their summer holidays together?
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Family fun from Figtree

20th June, 2018

Get your summer off to an entertaining start with our fiendish family brainteasers. Designed to get everyone thinking, these riddles are a great way to give the mind a workout and have some fun at the same time.
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Surviving the summer stress-free

20th June, 2018

According to a survey from activity app Hoop, one in four parents suffers from ‘FOSH’ – fear of the summer holidays. And with increasing numbers of families relying on two, full-time incomes, it’s no wonder that the expense – and sheer logistics – of the summer holidays strike dread into parents’ hearts.
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The world is your oyster

24th May, 2018

First established in the late 1960s, the International Baccalaureate (IB) was once the preserve of globetrotting families and diplomats’ children. But with 155 schools in the UK now offering the IB to its pupils, and universities placing increasing value on IB applications, the higher education landscape is looking decidedly more global.
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To IB or not to IB?

24th May, 2018

With increasing numbers of schools offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) instead of A-levels, how do pupils decide which route to take? A necessary step to further education, it’s vital students make the right choice to ensure they get the very best from their last two years of school. Here are our thoughts on how the…
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Talking tutors – Rudi M.

24th May, 2018

Figtree tutor and One Degree volunteer, Rudi talks to us about maths, mentoring and the magic of a little self-belief.
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Talking tutors – Khaled N.

19th April, 2018

Established English tutor, accomplished writer and passionate founder of Figtree’s first creative writing class, Khaled Naim is helping children rediscover the joy of the written word. We talk to Khaled about his tutoring career and how creative writing can benefit students across the curriculum.
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Turning exam stress into exam success

19th April, 2018

Studies have shown that stress can adversely impact children’s exam performance. So with changes to the GCSE assessment structure coming into full force this year, proactively coping with stress is more important that ever. Here are our top tips on how to spot – and stay on top – of exam anxiety.
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Getting to grips with GCSEs

19th April, 2018

Last year saw the introduction of a new assessment structure for GCSEs across England. Part of a parcel of revisions to the curriculum initiated in 2014, the bulk of the changes to GCSEs come into effect this summer. So what exactly is happening, and what does it mean for students preparing to take their exams…
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When should you turn to tuition?

21st March, 2018

Whether it’s in preparation for an exam or for support in a specific subject, to boost your child’s confidence or boost their chances of entry to a top school, the decision to start private tuition can be a difficult one.
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Extra tuition – over the top or an essential top up?

21st March, 2018

Increasing numbers of parents are turning to private tuition. But with their children already attending often excellent – and sometimes expensive – schools, why do they feel the need to top up their education?
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The rise of the machines

23rd February, 2018

The Internet continues to revolutionise the way we live at an extraordinary pace, with digital technology now an integral part of family life.
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Switch on to online tutoring

23rd February, 2018

This month, we’re looking at why increasing numbers of students and parents are switching on to the benefits of online tutoring. With the trend clearly here to stay, here are our thoughts on how technology is changing tutoring for the better.
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Talking tutors – Rishi S.

23rd February, 2018

This month we talk to Rishi Sankar, our resident 11-plus expert, on how his former career at the BBC has shaped the tutor he’s become.
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Coming of age in the digital age

19th January, 2018

Social media has become a huge part of the way we interact in the digital age, but a recent report by Children’s Commissioner Anne Longfield paints a worrying picture of young children dependent on ‘likes’ and comments for personal affirmation.
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Talking tutors – Aoife L.

19th January, 2018

This month, we talk to Figtree tutor Aoife about what makes her tick and the secrets of a successful tutor-student relationship.
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Staying safe and social online

19th January, 2018

This month, we reported on a study into social media use by Children’s Commissioner Anne Longfield. Her findings raise considerable concerns about children’s increasing dependence on ‘likes’ and comments for acceptance and affirmation. But with social media here to stay, is switching off the answer?
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25th September 2026

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