The Ultimate Guide to ‘Summer Learning Loss’

According to a new report by Exeter University and LSE, children in England have missed out on 110 days of learning in school between March 2020 and April 2021. With the summer holidays fast approaching, it has been shown that long weeks off in the summer can set teens back a few steps when they return to school in September – coined ‘Summer Learning Loss’.

In short, Summer Learning Loss is the decrease in academic performance during the summer holidays. On average, teens can lose up to 30% of learning and teachers normally need to do 6 weeks worth of catch up work at the start of the new school year before they can start to progress. With the major disruptions made to education this year, this is expected to be heightened in the return to the classroom this September. Experts estimate that students will only keep 70% of reading knowledge and 50% in maths as a result of the pandemic and the remote learning that has taken place.

With the summer holidays fast approaching, lots of teens in key academic years will be taking the time to get ready for the next academic year, and repair any damage the pandemic has done to their learning. Co-founder of MyTutor, Bertie Hubbard, has shared 4 ways to help your teen avoid Summer Learning Loss:

1. Read, read and read some more
Reading is an excellent way for teens to spend their spare time. Not only can it be enjoyable, it’s an excellent way for them to keep their mind active or learn something new. This will be helpful when back in the classroom, and it’ll help them find interests that motivate them to learn. Also, if your teen is studying A level English, they can even get a head start by reading some of the key texts.

2. Listen to podcasts
Podcasts are increasingly becoming a way for people to unwind and take in new information. With so many genres out there, from entertaining fictional stories to interviews, political discussions, debates and more- there’s guaranteed to be one for your teen. Streaming platforms offer loads of different podcasts, and the best thing about them is that you can listen to them whilst doing other activities.

3. Get 1-1 support from an expert
Having a tutor is one of the most effective ways to help boost a teen’s confidence in their ability – and themselves. With the undivided attention of a tutor, they can ask any questions they want, go at their own pace and learn in a way that suits them. Our tutors are from top UK unis and they’re just a few years ahead in their education, so teens see them as role models and they don’t feel as if they’re back in the classroom. MyTutor students improve, on average, by a whole grade in 12 lessons, and 88% say lessons made them feel more confident. So with just a few lessons over the holiday, they can keep on track, heal over any damage the pandemic caused to their learning, and hit the new term ready to meet their potential.

4. Watch TV and films
TV can be really beneficial for teens’ education. Watching shows and films that relate back to what they’re studying in school can help keep your teen’s brain engaged this summer – without them feeling as if they’re spending all holiday studying. This can include documentaries like BBC’s Our Planet for those studying Geography, Netflix’s The World Within for teens interested in Biology or The Mind: Explained if you’re a Psychology student. We have a list of films and documentaries that fit GCSE and A Level curriculums to get started. Why not even watch a film adaptation of a book you’re going to study sand compare what’s better?

MyTutor will be offering free large group tutorials over the summer, covering topics such as UCAS applications and careers advice. Teens will be able to drop-in to these to top-up their summer whenever suits them. Parents can secure early access for their teen by signing up on the waiting list here: https://mtw.typeform.com/to/K3Qj8FTg

“Teens need support now more than ever”: Bertie Hubbard, co-founder of EdTech platform MyTutor, discusses the role that EdTech can play in helping struggling students:

“The last fifteen months have been unbelievably tough year on teens and parents alike with months out of school, exam cancellations, not seeing friends and worrying about Covid-19. As schools open again, catching up on lost learning and prepping for assessed work next term will bring another set of challenges for teens.

They’re in more need than ever for some support and reassurance with their studies, and that’s exactly what our tutors offer. Our tutors are all from UK universities, and because they’re just a few years older they can easily relate to what teens are going through. With their dedicated one-to-one support, teens get some much-needed reassurance and come out with a stronger self-belief – 88% say that lessons made them feel more confident.

Rather than replacing teachers with robots, the biggest power of EdTech lies in enhancing person-to-person learning. At MyTutor, we provide online tuition that raises kids’ grades, boosts confidence and helps them fulfil their potential in life. Because it’s online, kids get access to amazing tutors from across the country, rather than whoever’s nearby. As there’s no travel for the student or the tutors, it also saves time and money travelling – reducing the cost and stress involved for parents.”