We have become rather fond of measuring intelligence. Schools measure it through examinations and grades. Employers measure it through qualifications and aptitude tests. Parents worry about whether their children are
Continue readingWhy Curiosity Might Be More Important Than Intelligence
A back-to-school essay on learning, memory, and the uncomfortable truth about AI September always feels different. Even if you are long past school age, there is something about this time
Continue readingThe New School Year… and Why Your Brain Hates Shortcuts
Take an ice cube, drop it into a glass of water and watch what happens. It floats. Most of us have seen it thousands of times without giving it much
Continue readingWhy Does Ice Float? And What Does It Teach Us About Being Wrong?
If you ask most adults about their memories of school science, the answers are often surprisingly similar. Some remember enjoying practical experiments but struggling with the written work. Others recall
Continue readingScience Is for Everyone… Why the Best Learning Begins with Curiosity
Why students and adults often lose confidence long before they lose curiosity. Whether you’re a GCSE student, a parent looking for the right tutor, a home educator, or an adult
Walk into most classrooms and you’ll notice something almost immediately… a kind of invisible contract. Sit still. Pay attention. Follow along. Get it right. It’s a system that has worked
Continue readingWhat Teaching at Summerhill Taught Me About How Students Actually Learn
Working with a tutor can feel like a bit of a gamble Working with a tutor can feel like a bit of a gamble. You’re hoping for clarity… but often
Most people assume GCSE exams are testing knowledge. They are… but only partially. What they’re really testing is something else: How well a student can translate knowledge into the format
This is a phrase I hear quite often after exams: “I knew it… I just didn’t write it right.” It’s usually said with a mix of frustration and quiet confusion.