No matter how gifted, talented, and hardworking a student may be, the wrong circumstances can negatively affect their academic performance. At Cambridge Home School Online, we often hear of precocious students suffering severe academic blows. It’s important to understand why this happens.
In this blog, we’ll offer a closer look at some of the most common reasons why children’s grades suddenly begin to drop. Use this insight to take the right steps and help your child get back on track. Let’s begin.
1. Unqualified Teachers
Did you recently switch your child’s school? Perhaps they are studying at the same institution, but their teachers have changed? Unqualified, inexperienced, and insufficiently trained teachers can make even the most talented students falter.
To succeed in school, students must develop a strong interest in their studies. This interest is contingent on how passionate, qualified, experienced, emotionally intelligent, and empathetic their teachers are. If the wrong teachers take your child under their wings, the outcome will be disappointing.
We strongly recommend setting up a meeting with the faculty. Leading up to the meeting, do your research. What are the qualifications of the teachers? Ideally, they should be MA/MSc/PhD qualified. Moreover, how much experience do they have? Which teaching approach do they use? Are they harsh towards students or empathetic, understanding, and kind?
These details make a big difference in student performance. As the meeting progresses, you’ll get a good idea of whether the faculty is fit to teach your child. If you’re afraid you’ve made the wrong decision, consider switching schools.
The right teachers can help students realise their potential and shine bright in and outside the classroom. At CHS Online, our MA/MSc/PhD qualified teachers deliver engaging, enjoyable, and retentive lessons that help students secure top grades.
2. Lack of Flexibility
As academic stress, anxiety, and burnout increase among students, education specialists urge parents to reconsider their approach. When students are pushed to study for an unreasonably high number of hours per day, they struggle to maintain optimal levels of focus and concentration.
Students spend the bulk of the day studying. As a result, they develop academic fatigue. Instead of improving, their academic performance declines.
It’s possible that your child is overworked. If this is the case, encourage them to develop a healthy work-life routine. Once their classes end for the day, students should enjoy ample afterschool activities like sports, hanging out with friends, exploring new hobbies and interests, developing new skills, going on adventures and explorations with friends, meeting new people, having new experiences, visiting new places, and so on. This is part of the learning process.
As a parent, ensure that your child is granted ample flexibility. Once they return home from school, they should have ample time to study, revise, complete their homework, and enjoy themselves. A healthy, balanced schedule will help your child improve their grades. If they’re overworked, however, their academic performance will continue to stagnate.
Recommended Read: 5 Ways Cambridge Home School Helps Students Balance Academics and Extracurricular Activities
3. Inadequate Support
To thrive, students must be equipped with the right academic support, tools, and guidance. While excellent teachers are important, they’re not enough. Students must also have a positive learning experience supplemented with the right tools.
At Cambridge Home School Online, we have created a vast online library to help students keep their academic performance on track after school. Once their classes end for the day, students can explore thousands of resources like previous catch-up lessons, videos, PowerPoint presentations, activities, exercises, past papers, worksheets, study guides, and so much more.
These tools help sustain the learning process. As students complete their homework and revise for the day, they may have questions. Our online repository addresses these questions to get rid of any confusion or doubt.
We also provide one-on-one success coaching and pastoral support to every student. This invaluable resource also plays a pivotal role in keeping students happy, motivated, and encouraged. If a student is struggling with any academic, personal, or social problem, they can unhesitatingly reach out to our student counsellors. We provide a safe, open, and candid space to students. They can address their problems without fear of judgement.
If a student requests it, we also maintain anonymity. Otherwise, every session is confidential by default. This tool also goes a long way in helping students openly and honestly address their problems instead of sweeping them under the rug. When unresolved issues pile up, they become an academic hindrance. We make sure this doesn’t happen.
Recommended Read: 20 Students Discuss Their Online Schooling Experiences
As a parent, you should have a razor-sharp focus on improving your child’s academic performance. At Cambridge Home School Online, we shoulder this responsibility. Since our inception in 2002, we’ve helped thousands of talented students get back on track.
Our teachers, education specialists, and student counsellors collectively identify the unique factors contributing to academic decline. Based on our analysis, we use an individualised approach to help students develop a genuine interest in their studies and secure top grades.
If your gifted child has been struggling recently, consider switching to the online schooling model at CHS Online. We teach the Cambridge homeschool curriculum to students across the globe. As one of the most esteemed, trusted, and recognised online British schools in the UK, we’re trusted by thousands of parents.
Explore our four competitive homeschooling programs: Primary Prep/Key Stage 2 (ages 7 to 10), Lower School/Key Stage 3 (ages 11 to 13), Upper School/IGCSEs (ages 14 to 16), and Sixth Form/AS & A-Levels (ages 17 to 19). For more information, take a closer look at the following resources:
- Admissions Process
- Term Dates
- Application Form
- Scholarships & Bursaries
- Grades & Fees
- Online Reviews
Whether you’re interested in high school online learning, school options for working parents, secondary schools in the UK, or primary school programs, CHS Online is the right choice. We help our students become keen learners and even better performers.
In addition to achieving academic excellence, our students continue to impress us with excellent extracurricular performance, personal growth, and social development. We’re ready to start shaping a new, bright, and promising future for your children.
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FAQ
Why might a student’s academic performance suddenly decline?
A student’s academic performance could decline for various reasons. Some common causes are unqualified teachers, lack of flexibility in their routine, or inadequate support. It is crucial to understand these factors to take corrective steps for improvement.
What role do teachers play in a student’s academic performance?
The qualification, experience, and teaching methods of teachers are key factors in a student’s academic success. A teacher who is not well-qualified or experienced can negatively impact even a talented student’s performance. It’s advised to scrutinise the qualifications and approach of teachers before making schooling decisions.
How can a balanced lifestyle benefit my child academically?
Overworked students often face academic burnout and a drop in grades. Maintaining a balanced schedule that includes study time, extracurricular activities, and personal growth opportunities can help improve academic performance.
What kind of academic support does Cambridge Home School Online provide?
Cambridge Home School Online offers a comprehensive array of academic resources, including an online library filled with study materials, videos, and exercises. They also provide one-on-one success coaching and pastoral support, aiming to address both academic and personal challenges students might face.
Is online schooling a viable option for gifted students?
Yes, online schooling can be a great alternative, especially when traditional schooling isn’t meeting a gifted student’s needs. CHS Online offers tailored programs for different age groups, helping students not just with academics but also with their overall personal growth and development.