PROGRAMMES
& SCHOOL SERVICES
We are capable of greater change
when we work together.
We design and deliver educational programmes for schools and organisations that work with children and young people. Each project that we work on is unique, but what they all have in common is that they are free for the participating students.
In this way, we are able to provide support to many children and young people across Northern Ireland who would otherwise be unable to avail of extra learning support. We are always humbled by the care for children and community that we see within those who we partner with.
HERE'S A TASTE OF SOME OF OUR WORK
GCSE Time Management
Each year, we deliver workshops for Year 12 GCSE students at a number of secondary schools with the aim of encouraging students to reflect on their time management techniques and to plan out how they can use the months leading up to the start of the exam period effectively.
This year, we expanded on the materials provided to students by creating detailed, 8-week revision planners. These have been useful for students to plan out their weekly revision tasks with visual representations of the actual time spent revising to guide each week's progress.
Targeted Exam Support
Each year, a large group of students from over 20 secondary schools across Northern Ireland take part in the Junior Maths Academy held by the Widening Participation Unit at Queen's University Belfast. We provide targeted maths support that is tailored to cover the varying levels of ability within the group.
Each year, we create new materials in sets of booklets aimed towards M5, M6, M7 and M8 CCEA papers and, over the course of three sessions, we run four simultaneous workshops that cover key topics of difficulty for each specification.
Year 10 Mental Wellbeing
The Dickson Plan transfer system in Co. Armagh sees Year 10 pupils in Junior High schools sitting exams to enter the grammar sector at age 14. Each year, we deliver a day of workshops to one of the schools as part of their mental well-being programme. The workshops are designed to help students with any feelings of stress around preparing for their upcoming assessments.
Time management questionnaires are used to help students understand how they spend their time on a regular basis. With their results, they create realistic revision plans that will give them time to relax and enjoy social, sports and family activities around their exam preparation.
Dyslexia Literacy Support
Following a successful pilot programme in 2019, we ran a programme of in-school, dyslexia support tuition for a group of Year 9-10 students at a secondary school. The primary objective was to target the literacy skills of the students nominated to participate in the service by the school SENCo. Each student received two sessions of 1:1 support each week throughout the term.
Based on initial literacy tests, we designed workbooks to use with the students, which covered the specific areas that they found difficult. To aid with reading speed and legibility, we used sans serif, weighted fonts and larger spacing throughout the printed materials.
Learning Styles
For our learning techniques workshops for Year 8-10 students, we have designed questionnaires based on O'Brien's Learning Channel Preference checklist. Students who are more aware and comfortable with their own learning styles are likely to take greater responsibility over their approach to personal study.
Using the results of the questionnaire, we guide students through the different types of revision techniques that may be useful for them based on their learning type.
Studyseed’s annual support presentation for the Year 12 always leaves the Year group motivated and organised to ensure they reach their potential in the external exams. Studyseed’s people skills and effective communication creates a rapport with the young people and their experience comes across clearly to everyone.
It is not easy to capture the attention of a whole year group but Studyseed always do so and the focus on time management and study skills leaves all the participants clear about their next steps. Students have also benefitted from the emphasis on team work and other softer skills needed for the world of work and further education. I would wholeheartedly recommend Studyseed and am confident they will also make positive differences in your school or organisation.
Head of Year, Lurgan College
Have a project in mind for us?
If you have an educational support project in mind for your school or organisation, or just want to know more about our free school services, pop us a message. Let's start a conversation.