Brandon Learning Centre: British Education - process, preparation and practicalities

The HKSMSA festival dates have just been announced. Students will have had their poems for a few weeks now. A common question from parents is 'how can we help?' Brandon has a few suggestions: 1: Come to one of our Speech Festival Prep classes (of course!) 2: Read the poem through with your child and get them to retell the story to you. Do they understand all the language? If not, look up the words together. 3: Mark up the poem with the relevant emotions. Play with the voices and add in facial expressions. 4: Practice whenever you can in front of family members. Most importantly.... The Speech Festival is a brilliant way to build confidence, encourage your child irrespective of their final result!

If I had a pound for every time parents had asked me to explain the difference between Common Entrance (11+/13+) and schools' own papers, I would have a nice little pot of savings! So here we go: 1: Common Entrance is an examination created by the ISEB (Independent Schools' Examination Board). The exam is available for a board range of subjects and different levels are available (maths has three for example). Individual schools decide: which papers candidates should sit and, the level required. You need to check requirements with the school (ask for subjects/levels). Registration is done through the ISEB website. Schools are provided with a suggested marking scheme but some adapt to suit their needs (e.g. rewards for correct spelling/forgiveness of incorrect spelling) Depending on the selectivity of the school, Common Entrance could be used to confirm an offer or just for setting purposes. Common Entrance can be sent to ONE school. The only way that it can be used fo

Leaving home at any age is a shock to the system but leaving home as a young child can be traumatic. Post 13+ or 11+, students tend to be euphoric as they realise that their hard work has paid off and their thoughts turn to summer rather than the new term. Missing home is inevitable and, as parents, there are a few ways you might want to consider to help your child cope: 1: Prepare for the new school, visit at least once (amazingly, the first exposure some students get to their new home for five years is when they arrive on the first day) 2: Talk about similarities and differences before your child goes - be attentive to cultural differences. 3: Identify ways of smoothing the transition - does your child have a favourite snack you can send? 4: Speak to the new housemistress/master and matron and work out when your child can call home, how you can contact him/her and what support can be provided. 5: Listen to your child. Don't dismiss their fears or worries, small probl

I did an interview with Singtao newspaper today in which we discussed dress codes and why they are important. I know that some people think that dress codes are out of fashion but to me they are a way of saying to your host "I appreciate you inviting me to this event. I recognise that you have invested time and money in planning and care about me enough to share your generosity with me. I am making an effort!' We are living in a society in which the silent ways of showing we care for each other are being eroded. I do not think that respect is an old fashioned value, rather it is a standard by which we can live our lives. Not turning up in jeans to a formal wedding is little to ask of us! Watch some of the interview on Singtao online

I had a miserable day yesterday which changed dramatically when I found this fabulous picture on my desk. The picture (and flattery, take it where you can!) reminded me that sometimes we need to stop taking life so seriously and live more in the moment. Children have a real gift for spontaneity and we should cherish it. Learning and educating goes both ways! My instant cheer up present from Akuri!