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School and Beyond

  1. Preparing your child for university

    Preparing your child for university 

    With September looming, many parents will be anxiously awaiting the inevitable departure of their son or daughter to college or university. While the bright lights of university beckon for them, so does empty nest syndrome for the parent. 

    While your natural instinct might be to howl your head off and get ready for impending loneliness and gloom, this is clearly not the most productive response for either of you. Obviously you won’t be thanked for micromanaging your offspring when they are getting ready for their big adventure, but you...

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  2. Homework

    “Getting them to settle down to homework seems to be a bit of an uphill struggle. And as for the maths and science - I couldn’t even help them out!”

     

    Sometimes homework can become quite a battle between parents and children.  Kids often appear to put off homework to the very last minute or don’t do it at all, whilst their parents fear that they may fail at school if they don’t get on with it. The result can often be conflict and strife.  As parents we can sometimes be concerned about not understanding the homework that has been given to the child.  

    There are ways of taking the heat or confusion out of the situation.  We asked other parents how they cope and they...

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  3. Trouble at school

     

    "Our son's out of control, he's been excluded"

    When your child is in trouble at school or truanting, you may feel desperate, with no idea what to do.  As a parent you have a legal responsibility to make sure your child attends school regularly but this doesn’t mean it is always easy, even though it could make a real different to your child's future.  

    Trouble at school can occur in all families, and may start as early as primary school or when children start secondary school.  Whether your child is truanting, has behavioural issues or has been excluded, it will help if you can find out what the reason might be.  Your child may be...

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  4. Their next steps and yours: Advice for single parents when your child turns 16

    It’s an exciting time for your teenager when they turn 16. They may be looking forward to gaining more independence, taking their first steps into adulthood and choosing what they want to do next in education, work or training. However for single parents, the start of the next stage in your teenager’s life can also be a bit worrying, as you might be struggling to find out how your benefits and tax credits will be affected. 

    If you’re a single parent and your child is turning 16, what they decide they want to do next – for example, staying on at school, starting an apprenticeship or getting a job – can have an effect on the benefits and tax credits you’re entitled to. It’s important to get all the facts so that you can plan your next steps and manage your family’s money if...

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  5. Ten Tips: Helping your Children Choose their School Subjects

    With a new school year ahead, thousands of secondary school children will be setting out on their career path by the choice of subjects they study. A survey by Future Morph and Family Lives discovered that after their children’s teachers, parents considered they would have the biggest influence on their children’s subject choices.

     An overwhelming majority of parents also suggested they would encourage their children to study science and maths post 16 (81%). So how can parents help their children at the key stages of their school life where subject choices need to be made? Future Morph – an interactive careers website for children, parents and teachers has come up with 10 top...

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  6. Peer Pressure and your children

    Youths leaning on a wallMany parents of teenagers worry about the influence their children’s friends can have. In fact we carried out some research which found that most parents felt they were not the biggest influence on their teenagers, believing that their peers held that top slot. Parents worry about what their children learn from their friends and the effects of peer pressure.

    “Our son’s out of control, he’s been suspended from school twice, and is in a really bad crowd,” one distraught parent told us.

    Parents are concerned that the teenage...

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  7. Career choices

    Choosing what subjects to do for GSCEs may have already got you thinking about the future with your teenager – whether they continue with their education, do more studying or whether they look for more ‘vocational’ studies. It may be that they are already saying they want to leave school after exams and get stuck in to a job.

    This stage can sometimes trigger a tension between a parent and their teenager. There is a lot of pressure to achieve academically and sometimes the dreams we have for our children do not match what they want. Parents tell us that sometimes they are frustrated by their children’s lack of motivation: their unwillingness to knuckle down. Parents tell us how anxious they can become when trying to persuade their children that they just want the best possible...

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  8. University finances

    It's useful for your child to start planning early on what their key expenses are going to be at university.

    Student loans

    Student loans are to help to pay for living expenses such as accommodation, food and course materials.

    These are not commercial loans like those offered by high street banks or building societies. They are cheap loans, and the amount you repay is directly linked to your income once you have left university and are earning over £15,000 a year. That means the more you earn, the more you pay back, the less you earn, the less you pay back and if you do not earn over £15,000 then you don’t pay back a penny. Someone earning £20,000 a year will only be paying back £8.65 a week.

    You apply through your Local Education Authority (LEA) at the...

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  9. Gap years

    The exams are over, you’re proud of your teenager’s hard work and you’re looking forward to spending some exam-free time with them. And then they announce that they’re taking a much deserved break - to go travelling. Great for them, but probably a bit scary for you...

    Many teenagers decide to spend between 3 to 12 months travelling abroad, before they start college or university, or before they begin looking for a full time job. What can be an exciting time for them can cause all sorts of worries for you; will they have enough money, will they be safe? Your teenager’s lack of experience of travelling without you there to help check-in at the airport or keep their passport safe can also add to your concerns.

    A recent Family Lives poll asked parents if they would allow...

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  10. Teens and Truancy

    Is your teen reluctant to go to school or lacking in motivation?

    Watch agony aunt Suzie Hayman discuss how you can help support and encourage your teen in their education, and what the school can do to help you.

    When your child is in trouble at school or truanting, you may feel desperate, with no idea what to do. As a parent you have a legal responsibility to make sure your child attends school regularly but this doesn’t mean it is always easy to do this, even though it could make a real difference to your child’s future....

    Read more