Frequently asked questions

Who are the courses suitable for?

The courses are suitable for students in Year 11 (Final year of GCSE & IGCSE), Year 12 (AS Level – the first year of A Level) and Year 13 (A2 Level – the final year of A Level) who will be sitting their exams in summer 2012.

What is the aim of the courses?

Our aim is to give the students exposure to exam style questions, fill in gaps in their knowledge and help them to improve their revision and exam techniques.

Do I need a course if I’m predicted a good grade?

Revision courses are not just for students who are struggling with a subject. Our courses are taken by students who wish to ensure they get their predicted grade or even wish to increase it. Students predicted A* often come on our courses. The courses aim to consolidate a student’s knowledge and help with examination technique so that students have extra confidence when it comes to walking into their exams. The courses are designed to make the best of the revision time available over the Easter break.

How much can I expect to improve?

The courses are for revision of work already covered. If you have minor gaps in your knowledge, or areas you have covered already but have forgotten or not understood very well, the courses will help. However, in the short revision course period we are not able to teach every part of the subject and we purposefully do not suggest that by coming on our courses any student will be guaranteed a high grade. Grades are clearly also affected by the amount of revision each student does after the courses and by their actual performance during the exam.

What tier are the GCSE courses suitable for?

All the courses are designed for students taking higher tier examinations only. However, some courses may be helpful to students on intermediate tier. Please check the specific course outline to check what topics the course will cover.

I’m studying a different board to the one you cover. Will the course still be relevant?

Probably not. However if you are unsure, our advice would be to show our course outline to your teacher at school/college who will be able to advise you if the course is relevant to you.

How many subjects can I study?

For GCSE/IGCSE, students can study a maximum of four subjects, for AS/A2 the maximum is three subjects.

How many students are there in a class?

For GCSE/IGCSE subjects there is a maximum of 10 students per class, for AS/A2 subjects, the maximum is eight students.

We believe that a class size smaller than the usual school class size is beneficial to allow students time to ask questions and gain confidence through receiving more individual attention.

If I come late what will I miss?

We strongly recommend that students attend all sessions. However, if for good reason you are unable to attend a session, your tutor should be able to give you notes and a brief overview of the work you missed. We are unable to guarantee exactly what will be covered on any given session as the courses are planned to allow maximum flexibility in catering for the needs of the students, concentrating on their particular weaknesses.

Is there homework?

Yes, students are set up to 1½ hour’s work per evening.

If I miss a day/morning, can I have a reduction on fees?

No, this is not possible and we strongly recommend that you do not miss any part of the course.

Who are the teachers?

Some are Harrow School and John Lyon School staff (John Lyon School is part of the same foundation as Harrow School). Others come from other reputable schools e.g. Radley College, Merchant Taylors’ School and Roedean School. All are selected by the same academic criteria as permanent Harrow School staff.

Why are they not all from Harrow School?

It is necessary to employ teachers from outside Harrow School in order to cover the broad range of boards and specifications on offer – most schools only offer one board per subject. Many of the staff have taught with us for many years. Some of the tutors are also national examiners. The Director of Studies, who oversees the academic quality of the courses, is a senior full time Harrow School teacher.

Can I book a place over the phone?

You can reserve a place for 3 working days. However, we cannot process the application until we have received the signed application form, or an application submitted online. After 3 working days, we will release the place.