Keystone Tutors Blog
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What are the education options in the UK for Hong Kong BNO visa holders?
In 2020, the UK Government announced a new visa for Hong Kong residents that have British National (Overseas) status in response to the new security laws being introduced by China.
How to Set Up a Home School
In light of the Covid-19 school closures we thought it would be helpful to list some of our key recommendations when it comes to making home-schooling a success.
Online Learning - Ground Rules for Students
To assist teachers and students in making online lessons as productive as possible we have put together this infographic on the ground rules that students should follow for online learning.
Is Online Tuition for English Right for My Child?
Michael has been working for Keystone for over 3 years, tutoring students online in English. In this short question and answer article, Michael covers some of the key concerns that parents often have about the effectiveness of online tuition, based on his own extensive experience. He also talks about some of the tools and techniques that can be used by tutors and students to get the most out of online tuition.
How Effective is Online Tutoring? A Parent’s Guide
Online tutoring has been a popular option for many years – but how effective is it? What are the key differences between online and in-person tuition? Is it right for your child? In the article below, one of Keystone's most experiened online tutors Alexander, answers parents’ most frequent questions about the advantages of online tutoring.
UKiset Vocabulary List
It is difficult to recommend one vocabulary list for the UKiset, as it can be taken by students at any age between 9-and-a-half to 18 years old. As a profiling assessment, it measures a student’s level of academic English which is then judged against peers of the same age.
UKiset Past Papers and Sample Tests
Past papers are a fantastic way to prepare for any kind of exam - but UKiset do not publish them, sadly! Fortunately there are a number of ways to prepare for the different sections of the test, and any candidate taking the UKiset would be well advised to practice using the resources and tips below. You can also see our UKiset Preparation Guide for more advice on preparing for the UKiset.
Does Alma Still Matter? A Report by Keystone Tutors on The Schools Educating The Nation's Elite
Keystone has today published a report that analyses the education backgrounds of individuals who feature in Who's Who and Who Was Who. Analysing 66,000 datapoints from the Who's Who database we have been able to see some fascinating the trends as to which schools are educating the "nation's elite".
Webinar: “Can Do Better?” Have We Found the Best Way to Assess Schools and How to Select Them?
This webinar, co-hosted by Keystone Tutors and Wild Search, brought together a distinguished panel of experienced educationalists to challenge some of the assumptions which are often made regarding schools.
Webinar: 21st Century Schooling
Keystone's Founder and Director, Will Orr-Ewing, delved into new forms of schooling for the 21st Century. Will was joined by guest speakers, Jonathan Noakes, who is Head of Teaching & Learning at Eton College, Sam Rogerson, Co-Founder and Head of Lexicon School and Hugh Dickinson, Founder of Concept Education.
Homeschooling Pods
What is ‘Pod’ learning and why is it increasingly popular? The Corona Virus Pandemic has changed many people’s views on homeschooling and with the ever-changing advice on schools, it is a path that is of interest to many parents.
Keystone Tutors A Level Guide
Advanced Level qualifications, better known as A Levels, help students enter universities or colleges or careers related to the subjects they choose to study. Originally introduced in the UK in 1951, they are also offered in a range of Commonwealth countries, and are normally studied over the course of a 2 year period. Most students will study either 3 or 4 A Levels between the ages of 16 and 19.
Occasional Places (Senior Schools)
UK independent schools tend to have defined entry points and clear processes from registration to assessment and interview.
Prep School (Years 4 to 8) Reading Lists
Parents often ask us which books their children should be reading. In some respects, it’s the wrong question to ask – are there any books children shouldn't be reading? – but with children’s free-time seeming ever to shrink, there is certainly merit in searching out the best.
Webinar: How to Use the Summer Holidays to Prevent Learning Loss
Keystone's Director of Education, Ed Richardson, is joined by Olly Hopwood (teacher at Westminster School) and Jonny Timms (Deputy Head at Caldicott Prep School) to discuss strategies parents might employ to prevent learning loss over the summer holidays.
Webinar: Why Homeschooling – A Discuss on the Ins and Outs of Homeschooling
Keystone Director of Education, Ed Richardson and Homeschooling Manager, Poppy Dundas, are joined by Andy Thompson, Education Consultant and Director of Oxford Myrtle. Andy looks after a number of families who are homeschooling their children for a variety of reasons. The panel discuss homeschooling, drawing on their experience at Keystone and answering the common questions that arise.
Finding the Right Tutor for My Child
Finding the right tutor can be a real game changer for your child, it can help to overcome areas of concern, and to unlock their academic potential. Looking for the right one, though, can be a minefield, and a stressful one for both you and your child. Below we answer some commonly asked questions that should make the whole process much easier.
The Post Covid-19 Graduate Employment Landscape
For this event Keystone Founder and Director, Will Orr-Ewing is joined by Sophie Wade and James Darley to discuss how the employment world will look after the Covid-19 pandemic.
GAP Years - How to Plan a GAP Year in a Socially Distanced World
Keystone Director of Education, Ed Richardson is joined by Andrew Mackenzie, Managing Director of Africa and Asia Venture – experts in GAP year travel for over 25 years and Dr Jonathan Burbidge, housemaster and teacher at St Edward's School. Here they will be discussing the possibilities of a gap year and how this might be different from the normal in the context of Coronavirus.
Homeschooling: How Keystone Tutors Can Help
Keystone has built its reputation on providing supplementary tutoring: filling in gaps in a child’s education. Using excellent tutors teaching one-on-one, we also provide homeschooling support effectively and efficiently, often teaching years of curriculum content in a few months. There was a time when most education was conducted in this manner.
Keystone’s Public Service Offering During the Coronavirus
Like the rest of the country, we have been rocked by the unfolding crisis caused by COVID-19. We are especially aware of the disruption caused to families across the country by measures such as the closure of UK schools and limits placed on movement outside the home. Scaling up a comprehensive online offering is naturally a huge task for schools.
Online Tutoring FAQs
Online tutoring is becoming more and more popular with students of all ages. Five years ago, 18% of Keystone’s lessons were delivered online; now this is 60% and we expect it to increase further. Here we answer typical questions we are asked about the phenomenon.
Our Top 10 Tips for Teaching Online
Our Director of Education, Ed Richardson shares his top 10 tips using the acrostic ONLINE TIPS.
Top Tips for Revision
Keystone's Director of Education, Ed Richardson, joins our lead consultant Harriet Blomefield to discuss their top tips for revising.
Considering UK Universities from Abroad
‘What shall I do when I leave school?’ is just one of several important questions students make during their final three years at school. But it is one that they shouldn’t feel daunted by as this is an exciting time and, typically, the final step in their formal education. The most salient point to remember is that there is a spider’s web of people from whom they can seek advice: teachers, parents, friends and even current university students.
Can a Quarter of Exam Grades Awarded Really Be Wrong?
As an avid Podcast listener, the More or Less Podcast has long been a weekly essential. The Podcast looks to explain the numbers and statistics used in political debate, the news and everyday life. I was particularly captivated by a recent episode, in which the Podcast investigated the truth behind claims made by The Times that “48% of A level results are wrong”.
Book Your Family in for an MOT with Keystone’s Education Health Check!
Unsure about how to monitor your child’s education, or keen to have an unbiased opinion regarding progress and future goals? .
Getting Ready to Start AQA A-Level Philosophy
Maybe you’ve just finished your GCSEs and have decided to enter the brave new world of Philosophy at A Level. It might feel both exciting and a little daunting to be beginning a brand-new subject in Year 12, rather than continuing one, such as Physics or English, that you’ve studied for some years.
What is the Purpose of Your CV? Coaching4Careers (A Guest Post)
Coaching4Careers deliver coaching for businesses, universities, schools, charities and committees in the UK and internationally. Their experienced consultants help people at all levels to identify their strengths, so that they can build a career based on their natural talents and passions. They also help schools and their students with career planning, including getting the most from work experience assignments. Find out more here.
Thinking About Your Future? Coaching4Careers (A Guest Post)
Coaching4Careers deliver coaching for businesses, universities, schools, charities and committees in the UK and internationally. Their experienced consultants help people at all levels to identify their strengths, so that they can build a career based on their natural talents and passions. They also help schools and their students with career planning, including getting the most from work experience assignments. Find out more here.
