Going Back to School: A Parents Guide to Student Study Habits

Joan is an experienced Teacher with a background spanning GCSE English, primary education, English as a Foreign Language, and Special Educational Needs. Having taught in International Baccalaureate school settings and worked with students of all ages and abilities, she brings patience, empathy and a genuinely personalised approach to every learner.

Here, she shares her practical advice for helping students ease back into school and revision at the start of an exam year.

8 Tips for Parents Worried About Starting School Again

By Joan | English and SEN Specialist Teacher | Sherpa Tutor

For students who are returning to school in September, especially in a year when they are taking exams, it is important to build a routine gradually. It is also important to reduce anxiety and give them the confidence to feel capable rather than overwhelmed.

1. Start slowly

The first few days back at school are a time to get into a routine. It really doesn’t matter if your child is not revising every night; it is more important to adjust slowly and get used to doing the following:

• Make sure the student goes to bed at a reasonable time and wakes up at the same time. Consistent sleep patterns help the brain rest.
• Make sure all equipment and clothes needed for school are ready the night before to avoid morning panic, which can cause unnecessary stress and anxiety. 
• Have a good breakfast at the table, not on the run!
• Walk to school if possible and get lots of fresh air. This is also good for relaxation.
• Set a reasonable amount of study time and keep it consistent. At this stage, consistency matters more than intensity.

2. Studying should be done in small pieces.

Don’t start by saying, “You need to revise for three hours.” In most cases, it is easier to say,

“Let's just do 20 minutes and see how you feel.”

Short study sessions with short breaks can make starting the revision process much easier. Increase the amount weekly so that, eventually, three hours is not considered a chore.

3. Make sure you have a timetable that can be achieved.

A student in an exam year can look at all their subjects and feel completely overwhelmed. One thing I have always done is discuss the following with the student:

• What subjects do you feel need the most attention and why?
• What tests are upcoming? What are the deadlines?
• Which subjects are you finding difficult or struggling with?
• Set a few simple goals each week.

If core subjects are a priority, consider focused support in GCSE Maths or GCSE English to build confidence early.

If you have a physical timetable, use it.

Make sure that free time and rest are added into the timetable. If the timetable is too demanding, it is more likely to fail.

4. Progress is important, not perfection!

Encourage students to think about what they can improve on, rather than how much they have to learn.

Remember PPI

• Praise
• Persistence
• Improvement

Always praise efforts, no matter how small. Always compliment persistence, and praise improvement. These are just as important as grades and will build the student's confidence.

A bad day doesn’t always mean failure. Start fresh the next day. A new day and a new start.

5. Help when necessary.

I find that with any project, revision, or problem, getting started is the hardest part; once you start, it is often much easier to continue.

Give them a challenge:

“What is one thing we can do before dinner?”

Once the student has started, they will find it easier to continue.

6. Make revision as active as possible.

Reading notes and books can be boring and unproductive. Try different methods to aid understanding:

• Practice questions from old exam papers
• Flashcards on the subjects that are difficult
• Explaining and talking about a particular topic aloud
• Make quizzes
• Always mark work with the student so they can see where they have made mistakes and correct them together.

For students revising multiple sciences, working with a GCSE Combined Science tutor can make practice more targeted and effective.

Giving feedback is extremely valuable.

7. Everyone needs to look after themselves.

Lots of different activities help the student function well.

Sleep - make sure you get enough every day. Eat the correct types of food. Exercise. Spend time with friends, and of course, relax. These are all things that help. 

Friendship and downtime aren't distractions from studying; they help the student feel normal.

Try to have time, maybe at the weekend, not to discuss exams. This makes life seem normal and doesn’t overtake the student’s life.

8. Look for anxiety

Having some exam stress is normal, but if a student becomes persistently withdrawn, extremely anxious, unable to sleep, frequently tearful, or overwhelmed by schoolwork, take this seriously.

Talk with them, be calm, and, if necessary, involve their teacher. Most of all, understand and remain calm.

A message to your child

“You don't have to have everything worked out on the first day back.

It’s not expected of you. It’s important to take small steps, one at a time. We need to get back into a routine, work out what you need to prioritise, and do it in small steps.

REMEMBER, NO ONE IS PERFECT.

Just keep moving forward. We will do what we can to support you.”

A helpful and healthy parenting approach is to have:

1. Structure without too much pressure.
2. Encouragement and help without too much nagging.
3. Let’s have high expectations with lots of reassurance.