Well, week two of the term is done and dusted, and somehow, it’s like the holidays never even happened. One minute, you’re feasting on leftover turkey; the next, you’re ankle-deep in missing PE kits and forgotten reading logs. For those with exam-age kids, the looming spectre of June is already setting up camp in our brains, dragging in a whole suitcase of anxiety. Meanwhile, the teens are blissfully indifferent, glued to their screens and conveniently allergic to books. “Don’t worry, Mum. I’ve got this,” they say, with the confidence of someone who hasn’t touched a highlighter since Year 7.
But here’s the reality: this is crunch time. The students who clear the clutter off their desks, get their revision timetables sorted, and actually use those fancy stationery sets they begged for in September are the ones who pull ahead now. This is the moment where good habits—or the lack of them—start to show.
And let’s talk about the biggest myth of all: “You can’t revise for English.” Oh yes, you can. If I had a dirham for every time I’ve heard that excuse, I’d be retired on a yacht, sipping cocktails. English revision is all about nailing how to structure essays, analyse texts, and sprinkle in some ambitious vocabulary without overdoing it.
The good news? GCSE success is totally achievable with the right strategy.
Here’s the formula for exam prep:
- Stick to the syllabus. Download the spec for each subject and cling to it like your life depends on it. No one’s testing them on what happened in Bridgerton or Love Island!
- Practice makes perfect. Master how to approach each question type. It’s not just about what you know; it’s how you show it off. Understand the command words: there is a world of difference between describe, analyse and assess.
Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry. I’m hosting a free breakfast at Grosvenor House Hotel on the 28th from 8am onwards. Come along for coffee, pastries, and a crash course in exam prep strategies. Trust me, it’ll be worth it and everything is better with pastry and coffee!
Speaking of strategy, A-level parents, remember: UCAS closes on January 29th. Even if your teen insists they’re skipping university to pursue a career in vlogging, get that application in. It’s all about keeping options open—you never know when they’ll have a change of heart (probably after their first unpaid internship).
Meanwhile, the school run remains an Olympic sport. I saw one parent today being subjected to a full-scale lunchbox interrogation in the car, which brought huge flashbacks of my daughter “Why is there a cheese sandwich in here? I hate cheese sandwiches!” Really? You loved them last Thursday”. And don’t get me started on the fruit—I think we had the best-travelled fruit ever; I would put it in the lunch box, knowing it would come home untouched. But hey, I packed it, so that’s a win.
This week, I’ve spoken to so many mums about GCSE subject choices, and here’s the thing: it’s not as life-or-death as it feels. The core subjects are covered, so let your kids pick what they enjoy. Most of them don’t have their lives mapped out at 16 (and frankly, most of us don’t at 50). A-levels are the real game-changers, but even then, the key is to choose subjects they’re passionate about. And if they’re not? There’s always time to pivot later—careers are rarely linear these days.
So, hang in there, mums. We’ve got this. And if all else fails, there’s always a chocolate diet or no diet, which is the key to surviving January—one school run, revision battle, and forgotten water bottle at a time.
As I always say, we don’t have a crystal ball, so deal with the information you have, and stop worrying about things you don’t know; if a problem arises, so will a solution; there is no point worrying about life what ifs!