How to Help Your Child Get Ahead This Summer (Without the Battles)
I've just finished another year working with families, and I'm reminded of something I see every September: the kids who used their summer wisely always hit the ground running in Year 11. But here's the thing – it's not about turning your house into a classroom.
After working with hundreds of families, I've learned what actually works. And what doesn't drive everyone mad in the process.
Be Realistic About Time (But Don't Aim Too Low)
Your child doesn't need to study 6 hours straight. That's a recipe for burnout by August.
What works: 30 minutes to an hour per subject, spread across the day. So if they're doing all three sciences, that might be 2-3 hours total – but broken up. Biology after breakfast, chemistry after lunch, physics in the evening.
The key is consistency. A student doing an hour of chemistry daily for 6 weeks will be miles ahead of someone who does marathon weekend sessions.
Focus on What's Actually Broken
This is where most families waste their summer. They try to "revise everything" instead of fixing what's actually holding their child back.
Sit down with your child's reports. What grades are they getting? If they're getting 7s in biology but 4s in chemistry, guess where you need to spend most of your time?
Don't spread effort equally across subjects that are performing completely differently. Your child will make way more progress fixing their weak chemistry than polishing their already-decent biology.
Same goes within subjects. Sift through their end of topic tests from school. If they understand photosynthesis but can't balance a chemical equation, you know what summer homework looks like.
You're Not Their Teacher (Thank God)
Stop trying to explain why ionic bonding works. Your teenager will listen to anyone else before they listen to you about electron shells.
Your job is simpler: create the environment where they can actually focus.
"How's the chemistry going?" "Need me to test you on anything?" "Want me to make you a coffee while you tackle those past papers?"
When they get stuck, don't dive in. "Sounds like we need to get you some proper help with that topic." Sometimes the best thing you can do is book them a session with someone who isn't their parent.
The Year 10 to 11 Jump is Real
If your child's going into Year 11, this summer isn't optional nice-to-have revision. It's preparation for a completely different level of intensity.
Year 10 feels manageable. Year 11 is about exam technique, time pressure, and connecting topics from months ago. The students who struggle in Year 11 are usually the ones with shaky foundations, not the ones who don't know the "advanced" stuff.
Get the basics rock solid this summer:
Biology: Core processes like photosynthesis and respiration appear in every single exam
Chemistry: Get comfortable with equation balancing and mole calculations - these skills come up constantly
Physics: Mathematical confidence and working under time pressure
When They Won't Listen to You
"My child just won't study when I suggest it."
This is normal. Teenagers are programmed to resist parental advice about everything.
Sometimes you need to step back entirely. Present it as their choice: "You mentioned wanting to do A-levels. What's your plan for keeping up over summer?"
And sometimes you need to admit that external help works better than family DIY. That's not a failure – that's smart parenting.
Keep It Simple
Don't overthink resources. Past papers from the exam board website are free and they're exactly what your child needs to practice. SaveMyExams (not sponsored) is useful for attempting difficult topic questions.
Apps like Seneca are fine for quick reinforcement, but the real work happens with practice questions and past papers.
And yes, create phone-free study time. "But I need it for research!" No, they don't. Not for an hour of focused practice.
The Reality Check
Your child doesn't need a perfect summer. They need a focused one.
Target their weak areas, be consistent rather than heroic, and remember that your job is support, not teaching.
If the family battles over summer study are getting ridiculous, or if you're not sure what they should actually be working on, that's when external help makes sense. Sometimes the best thing you can do is get professional backup rather than turning your kitchen table into a war zone.
But start simple: figure out what's broken, fix it bit by bit, and stay consistent.
Struggling to keep your child on track with summer revision? Our weekly small groups run through the holidays to maintain momentum without the family stress. Find out more here.