Resources > Study skills

Study skills

Habit Changer: cues, rewards and routines - activity

Two page pdf to accompany Changing Habits video

Learning to Learn: Independence PDF

Created by Sidney Stringer Academy and presented at our annual sixth form leadership conference. PDF that can be used as a PPT in tutorial time or adapt to create your own PPT. Contains links on YouTube & netsixthform getting the grades videos

Learning to Learn: meta-cognition PDF

Created by Sidney Stringer Academy and presented at our annual sixth form leadership conference. PDF that can be used as a PPT in tutorial time or adapt to create your own PPT. Contains links on YouTube & netsixthform getting the grades videos

Learning to Learn: forgetting and retrieval PDF

Created by Sidney Stringer Academy and presented at our annual sixth form leadership conference. PDF that can be used as a PPT in tutorial time or adapt to create your own PPT. Contains links on YouTube & netsixthform getting the grades videos

Learning to Learn: notetaking PDF

Created by Sidney Stringer Academy and presented at our annual sixth form leadership conference. PDF that can be used as a PPT in tutorial time or adapt to create your own PPT. Contains links on YouTube & netsixthform getting the grades videos

Developing a wider vocabulary - PDF

Encourages students to read more in order to broaden their vocabulary

How to make a flashcard - adaptable PPT

Revision and recall - 5 steps approach to making and learning a flashcard

Importance of Year 12: Predicted grades (5 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO - importance of studying hard in Year 12 + mini-plenaries and 'Think about' discussion at the end

Cheating in exams and valuing feedback

PPT for tutorial time

Revision 1 - Improving your understanding - TUTORIAL ACTIVITY

This 1 page PDF activity sheet accompanies the video of the same title

From pupil to student activity - discussion exercise PDF sheet

Great activity for induction to help students reflect on being more independent

Personal habit changer sheet PDF

Created by University of Bradford

Importance of Notes 1: in lessons

Getting the Grades Video (6 mins): students share their advice about taking notes in lessons

How to take notes - 17 page guide

17 page guide on how to take notes in different styles - with exercise to try out the methods

Taking even better notes - selectivity is key

Note-taking activity on how to take more selective notes to use in tutorial time with six formers

Importance of Year 12: a foundation for Year 13 (4 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO outlining a host of reasons why it's important to work hard all throughout Year 12. Use plenary slides at the end for class discussion.

Putting in the hours (5 mins 40 sec) - VIDEO

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO Video - Students outline how many hours they study to be able to achieve top grades. Download 'design your study schedule' activity

Understanding and tackling procrastination - PPT

Understanding and tackling procrastination - tutorial resource

Asking for help: other students

Getting the Grades video (5 mins) in which sixth former students discuss the value of seeking support from colleagues and friends

Study Skills: Organisation of folders and notes video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO - Top performing A Level students focusing on being organised in the sixth form. Download daily to do list + organisation activity

Blank study schedules to use

Blank study schedules to use

Reading strategies - 23 page guide

Guide to help students read academic information more effectively by using a series of strategies. Also provides an activity in which students learn how to speed read.

MODEL FOLDER AND REVISION CHECK

Revision and folder check sheet - generic so can be used by nearly any subject

Folder Check pro-forma

Skills Review to check a student's folder is well organised. Ready-made template to copy.

Revision - R is for managing Relationships to reduce distractions

Revision - manage relationships to reduce distractions

Feedback 2: Making the most of feedback (6 mins 43s) - video

Students the value of 'negative' feedback and it's importance in making progress

What's the problem? Questionnaire for under-performing students to complete before they meet their tutor

What's the problem? pre-meeting questionnaire for under-performing students to complete before they meet with their tutor

Barriers to learning - explore what you can control

Barriers to learning - explore what you can control - tutorial exercise

Changing Habits: cues, routines, rewards - video

Video (4 mins 39s) Habit Changing strategies based on the research outlined in 'The Power of Habit' by Charles Duhigg

A-Level Mindset and Growth Mindset

Growth and Fixed Mindset 3: Risk, Resilience and Feedback

GGetting the Grades video (6 mins): the final video in this suite where students share how it's normal to get a low grade throughout sixth form: resilience and feedback are so important.

Growth and Fixed Mindset 2: why does your mindset matter?

Getting the Grades video (5 mins): how can having a growth mindset help you throughout your sixth form journey? Students share their experiences

Growth or Fixed Mindset - assess your mindset exercise

Growth or Fixed Mindset - assess your mindset exercise activity

Growth Mindset - Myth of Genius

Growth Mindset - Myth of Genius - ready-made ppt for tutorial time or assembly

Fixed and growth mindset: the dangers of praise

Fixed and growth mindset: the dangers of praise - powerpoint for tutorial time or assembly

Growth Mindset - Confidence powerpoint

Teach students the importance of confidence and resilience and how they develop from having a growth mindset - ready-made ppt

Cheating in exams and valuing feedback

PPT for tutorial time

A LEVEL MINDSET - VIDEO FOLLOW-UP EXERCISE

A LEVEL MINDSET - VIDEO FOLLOW-UP EXERCISE

Developing Understanding 2: Deepening your subject knowledge (6 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO with two mini-plenary points throughout and a discussion activity at the end on deepening subject knowledge and understanding

Asking for help: other students

Getting the Grades video (5 mins) in which sixth former students discuss the value of seeking support from colleagues and friends

Asking for help: teachers - video

Getting the Grades video (5 mins) in which A-Level students encourage others to value asking for help from teachers

Responding to feedback - how do you react?

Tutorial activity to help students reflect about the way they respond to low grades e.g. internal test

Looking back: making the most out of sixth form - video

Getting the Grades Video (6 mins) students in their first year at university reflect on what they realise they valued about sixth form - great to play to Year 13

Attending lessons: valuing every one (5 mins 21s) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO - top performing students explain why it's important to value lessons. Includes mini-plenaries and 'Think about' discussion at the end.

7 Principles of learning

Mindset Growth

Emotions and learning

Cheating in exams and valuing feedback

PPT for tutorial time

Perfectionism 2: Pursuing excellence not perfection

Getting the Grades video video (5 mins): using student experiences, the difference between aiming high but not for perfection is explored

Growth and Fixed Mindset 3: Risk, Resilience and Feedback

GGetting the Grades video (6 mins): the final video in this suite where students share how it's normal to get a low grade throughout sixth form: resilience and feedback are so important.

Perfectionism 3: Solutions - is a growth mindset better?

Getting the Grades video video (4 mins 30 secs): students discuss the benefit of a growth mindset and how that provides a healthier approach to aiming high

Feedback 2: Making the most of feedback (6 mins 43s) - video

Students the value of 'negative' feedback and it's importance in making progress

Mental Health : feeling overwhelmed video

Video (6 mins) - successful students discuss feeling overwhelmed in Year 13 and how to cope

Emotional side of learning - self esteem

​Emotional side of learning - self esteem - reflection task​

Leap from Year 12 to Year 13 - video

Getting the Grades video - a great resource to show Year 13 when they return from their summer break.

Looking back: making the most out of sixth form - video

Getting the Grades Video (6 mins) students in their first year at university reflect on what they realise they valued about sixth form - great to play to Year 13

Responding to feedback - how do you react?

Tutorial activity to help students reflect about the way they respond to low grades e.g. internal test

Seeking support - part 1

Seeking support powerpoint for tutorial time

Seeking support - part 2

Seeking support - part 2 - powerpoint for tutorial time - mindfulness

Independent learning

Importance of Year 12: Predicted grades (5 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO - importance of studying hard in Year 12 + mini-plenaries and 'Think about' discussion at the end

Cheating in exams and valuing feedback

PPT for tutorial time

Revision 1 - Improving your understanding - TUTORIAL ACTIVITY

This 1 page PDF activity sheet accompanies the video of the same title

IMPORTANCE OF NOTES 2: AFTER LESSONS VIDEO

Getting the Grades Video (6 mins): note-taking - students share their advice about how they improved their notes to make them memorable cover the specification

From pupil to student activity - discussion exercise PDF sheet

Great activity for induction to help students reflect on being more independent

Fixed and growth mindset: the dangers of praise

Fixed and growth mindset: the dangers of praise - powerpoint for tutorial time or assembly

Independent Learning: Doing more than just homework

GETTING THE GRADES video (5 mins 30 secs) Comes with a range of activity downloads including 'rate your own independent learning skills'

Changing Habits: cues, routines, rewards - video

Video (4 mins 39s) Habit Changing strategies based on the research outlined in 'The Power of Habit' by Charles Duhigg

Leap from Year 12 to Year 13 - video

Getting the Grades video - a great resource to show Year 13 when they return from their summer break.

17 DAY CHALLENGE OVER EASTER

​17 DAY CHALLENGE OVER EASTER Adaptable PPT to encourage students to do some work over easter, ready for exams in the summer term.

MODEL FOLDER AND REVISION CHECK

Revision and folder check sheet - generic so can be used by nearly any subject

Blank study schedules to use

Blank study schedules to use

Rate your independent learning skills - questionnaire

Rate your independent learning skills - sixth form questionnaire

Independent learning resources checklist

Independent learning resources checklist in which students explore the range of resources they need to be able to help themselves learn

Independent learning skills log for a UCAS Personal Statement

Independent learning skills log for a UCAS Personal Statement

Barriers to learning - explore what you can control

Barriers to learning - explore what you can control - tutorial exercise

Independent Learning: cartoon exercise

Independent Learning: cartoon exercise

Understanding and tackling procrastination - PPT

Understanding and tackling procrastination - tutorial resource

Taking even better notes - selectivity is key

Note-taking activity on how to take more selective notes to use in tutorial time with six formers

Design your weekly study schedule

Design your weekly study schedule - activity for GCSE or Sixth Form tutor time

Learning to Learn at Post 16

Learning to Learn: Independence PDF

Created by Sidney Stringer Academy and presented at our annual sixth form leadership conference. PDF that can be used as a PPT in tutorial time or adapt to create your own PPT. Contains links on YouTube & netsixthform getting the grades videos

Learning to Learn: meta-cognition PDF

Created by Sidney Stringer Academy and presented at our annual sixth form leadership conference. PDF that can be used as a PPT in tutorial time or adapt to create your own PPT. Contains links on YouTube & netsixthform getting the grades videos

Learning to Learn: forgetting and retrieval PDF

Created by Sidney Stringer Academy and presented at our annual sixth form leadership conference. PDF that can be used as a PPT in tutorial time or adapt to create your own PPT. Contains links on YouTube & netsixthform getting the grades videos

Learning to Learn: notetaking PDF

Created by Sidney Stringer Academy and presented at our annual sixth form leadership conference. PDF that can be used as a PPT in tutorial time or adapt to create your own PPT. Contains links on YouTube & netsixthform getting the grades videos

Motivation

Importance of Year 12: Predicted grades (5 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO - importance of studying hard in Year 12 + mini-plenaries and 'Think about' discussion at the end

Motivation 1: The importance of a goal - video

Getting the Grades video (5 mins 30 secs): play in Year 12 to focus students on research their post sixth form options to help motivate them to study

Motivation 2: Finding ways to keep going - video

Getting the Grades video (5 mins 30 secs): great to show leading up to exams. Hear from students who found strategies to keep studying and revising.

Having a goal to motivate yourself

Having a goal to motivate yourself - research exercise for 6th form tutorial time

Cheating in exams and valuing feedback

PPT for tutorial time

Growth Mindset - Myth of Genius

Growth Mindset - Myth of Genius - ready-made ppt for tutorial time or assembly

Who am I? 20 tutorial exercises

​Who am I? 20 tutorial exercises in which students read about someone famous, guess who they are, answer questions about their life

Note-taking

Importance of Notes 1: in lessons

Getting the Grades Video (6 mins): students share their advice about taking notes in lessons

Revision strategies

Revision 1: recalling content - video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO - top performing students share advice on how they recalled content for exams. Includes mini-plenaries and 'Think about' discussion at the end.

Revision 2 - More Tips for Recalling Content

Sixth form students give their advice on how to recall content for exams

Revision 3: application and practice - video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO - Advice about the importance of past paper questions, mark schemes and practise from Year 13 students. Mini-plenaries and activities.

Revision strategies - recall, understanding, practise

Revision PPT includes links to three videos on recall, understanding and practise

How to make a flashcard - adaptable PPT

Revision and recall - 5 steps approach to making and learning a flashcard

Cheating in exams and valuing feedback

PPT for tutorial time

Revision - R is for managing Relationships to reduce distractions

Revision - manage relationships to reduce distractions

Revision - E is for Environment - think about where you revise

Revision strategies

Revision - S is for Strategies to recall information

Revision - S is for Strategies to recall information - tutorial booklet for GCSE and Sith Form students

Revision - T is for Testing yourself

Revision - T is for Testing yourself - activity booklet for sixth form tutorial time. Great for linear exams.

Revision 1 - Improving your understanding - TUTORIAL ACTIVITY

This 1 page PDF activity sheet accompanies the video of the same title

Technology: making it useful for studying - video

Getting the Grades video (5 mins 26 secs) Lots of ideas to embrace technology for learning with discussion activities Making technology useful for studying

Mental Health : feeling overwhelmed video

Video (6 mins) - successful students discuss feeling overwhelmed in Year 13 and how to cope

Design your weekly study schedule

Design your weekly study schedule - activity for GCSE or Sixth Form tutor time

Changing Habits: cues, routines, rewards - video

Video (4 mins 39s) Habit Changing strategies based on the research outlined in 'The Power of Habit' by Charles Duhigg

17 DAY CHALLENGE OVER EASTER

​17 DAY CHALLENGE OVER EASTER Adaptable PPT to encourage students to do some work over easter, ready for exams in the summer term.

9 Day Challenge - Powerpoint for members

Ppt to encourage students to study hard over October or February half term - adapt if you have a longer period

Technology and learning

Technology: making it useful for studying - video

Getting the Grades video (5 mins 26 secs) Lots of ideas to embrace technology for learning with discussion activities Making technology useful for studying

The leap from GCSE

Leap from GCSE to Sixth Form 1: realising the challenges (5 mins)

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO with plenary slide - ask students to choose 2 pieces of advice to act on

Developing Understanding 2: Deepening your subject knowledge (6 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO with two mini-plenary points throughout and a discussion activity at the end on deepening subject knowledge and understanding

Leap from GCSE to Sixth Form 2: understanding your subject (4 mins 30 sec)

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO with two discussion activities featured in the video (middle and at the end)

What skills do universities want sixth formers to develop?

Tutor activity to help sixth formers understand what skills academic skills universities need students to develop

Having a goal to motivate yourself

Having a goal to motivate yourself - research exercise for 6th form tutorial time

Thinking skills

Creative thinking skills: ideal for 5 - 10 mins tutorial exercise

​Creative thinking skills: ideal for 5 - 10 mins tutorial exercise

Starters and thinking skills exercises

Starters and thinking skills exercises. Induction activity for Year 12 students starting in September

Essential Skills for Dealing with a Post Truth World - POWERPOINT

Stephen Thomas. Great resource for Safer Internet Day as students get to consider what is truth on the internet?

Time management and procrastination

GCSE - Choosing sixth form courses: advice from students

Choose what you enjoy, what you are good at, your passion, uni entry requirements, career options, new subject

Procrastination: recognising and avoiding procrastination (Video 6 mins)

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO - even top performing students procrastinate. In this video their share their experiences and strategies to avoid procrastinating.

Habit Changer: cues, rewards and routines - activity

Two page pdf to accompany Changing Habits video

9 Day Challenge - Powerpoint for members

Ppt to encourage students to study hard over October or February half term - adapt if you have a longer period

9 Day Challenge - infographic

9 Day Challenge - infographic

Blank study schedules to use

Blank study schedules to use

Putting in the hours (5 mins 40 sec) - VIDEO

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO Video - Students outline how many hours they study to be able to achieve top grades. Download 'design your study schedule' activity

Distractions: Phones and Social Media (5 mins)

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO - advice about tackling social media and phones as a source of distraction. Comes with PPT activity.

Design your weekly study schedule

Design your weekly study schedule - activity for GCSE or Sixth Form tutor time

Understanding and tackling procrastination - PPT

Understanding and tackling procrastination - tutorial resource

9 day challenge

9 Day Challenge - infographic

9 Day Challenge - infographic

9 Day Challenge - Powerpoint for members

Ppt to encourage students to study hard over October or February half term - adapt if you have a longer period

Putting in the hours (5 mins 40 sec) - VIDEO

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO Video - Students outline how many hours they study to be able to achieve top grades. Download 'design your study schedule' activity