Last year, I shared Archie’s inspiring journey as he tackled his GCSE struggles, step by step. His story is all about perseverance and redefining what success means. As he navigated his final year of home-schooling and exam preparation, he discovered that progress isn’t just about grades; it’s about resilience, mindset, and the ability to keep moving forward.
Here’s his story again, a reminder that progress looks different for everyone—and it’s okay to define it on your own terms.
Navigating the pressures of exams can be daunting for students and parents alike. Amidst the flurry of study schedules, revision notes, and exam anxiety, one piece of advice consistently emerges: manage your expectations and put things in perspective. But what does this mean, and how can it be applied in real-life situations such as during home schooling?
Archie’s story
Archie’s learning needs had been misunderstood for so long that by the time his final exams rolled around, he was overwhelmed to the point of paralysis. Despite being a talented writer, he often blanked out completely during his essays. While a diagnosis of autism in his final year shed light on his challenges, it couldn’t make up for years of quietly suffering and feeling let down.
Offering guidance – our approach
The first step in my efforts to help Archie was to create a safe space where he could rethink how he saw himself as a learner. Giving him a chance just to be himself, Archie started to see his inherent strengths such as determination and conscientiousness. He realised he had done his best considering everything going on.
To follow up on the progress, we explored deep-seated beliefs. We examined how Archie has adopted external standards as his measure of success. This perspective often results in self-blame, as it’s natural to fall short of these standards. Gaining clarity on his beliefs allowed Archie to express his knowledge more freely as he no longer felt the need to pursue unattainable perfection.
Through a dedicated 8-week programme of one-on-one coaching tuition, Archie has made tangible progress. Here are a few of the techniques I’ve been incorporating to help with the immediate pressure and his ongoing development:
- Encouraging Archie to come up with strategies to help him manage his anxiety, such as taking a movement break when feeling stressed.
- Helping Archie with the academic work such as generating ideas for essay writing, creating structure and getting started.
- Taking small steps to prevent Archie from becoming overwhelmed. This means recognising each small achievement so that Archie can see the progress he is making more easily.
- Putting things into perspective. This involves stepping away from the stress of exams and looking at the bigger picture – life is not solely defined by academic achievements.
- Practising self-compassion. Encouraging Archie to treat himself with the same kindness and understanding he would offer a friend in the same situation.
At the start of the coaching and academic sessions, Archie felt overwhelmed, anxious, and on the brink of giving up. During the 8 sessions, however, he has grown noticeably more relaxed and composed in his approach to learning. He’s gained a better perspective on things and has made significant progress in his exam preparation.
Note: The student’s name has been changed for this blog.
About Out of the Box Teaching:
We offer tuition and home education in Bristol and beyond, specialising in supporting individuals with ADHD, autism, working memory issues, and trauma. Our services include:
- Tutoring with educational resilience and well-being coaching.
- Academic assistance such as essay writing.
- Standalone assessments for home-schooled children or school attendees.
- Short-term packages for bridging learning gaps or exam preparation.
- Long-term packages for interest-led learning or extended exam prep.
Contact us: 07786 628820, info@outoftheboxteaching.co.uk https://outoftheboxteachingcouk.onyx-sites.io/contact/