Our Latest News & Information
What a difference a Grade makes!
In UK School Secondary education there is a major milestone at age 16. Students sit national GCSE exams, which are the culmination of 2 - 3 years study. These GCSE exams test the student’s ability across a wide range of subjects; their results are important for their...
Early intervention leads to better academic outcomes
With the new academic year (2024/25) well underway, many parents are thinking ahead to the academic challenges their children will face in the coming months. Whether they’re preparing for GCSE Exams in June, or SATs in May. Now is the perfect time to consider the...
A young person’s perspective on living with ADHD
For a second, imagine that you were sitting in a classroom in an unspecified lesson. You hear your teacher’s voice for a moment and then suddenly something outside catches your eye. Maybe it was a squirrel running up a tree, maybe it was a leaf blowing in the wind or...
Does my child need a EHCP?
It isn’t too long ago that, as a parent, sending your child to school was a special event. School was promoted to be the best place for children to learn, setting them up for their adult lives. It was seen as a unique place where all of every child’s educational needs...
Phew – It’s time to return to School after the Summer holidays
Six weeks is such a long time. Some schools have an even longer Summer break. Schools in Scotland return during August. Differing Local Authorities in England return at different times. When to start? When to finish? How do you, as a parent, keep track of it...
The UK National Curriculum, 2024
At Kip, we hear a lot of talk amongst teachers and parents about the UK National Curriculum. Sue & Dave have dedicated this month’s blog to finding out a bit more about it; to help you understand the framework and how it affects your child. What is the UK National...
The historic times we live in
This past week has seen a General Election, held in the UK for the first time since 12th December, 2019. The Conservative Party had been in Government since May 2010; in excess of 14 years. The Political commentators stated that, “14 years is a long time in politics.”...
Post Covid, the homeschool revolution gains pace
Since starting Kip McGrath Derby South in 2011, Sue & Dave, have always welcomed a number of young people who are electively homeschooled. i.e. Parents have taken an informed decision and chosen to take their child out of full-time mainstream school and...
Kip McGrath Derby South – a student’s perspective
Even taking into account the fact that Sue & Dave have been running Kip McGrath Derby South for almost 13 years, we wouldn’t succeed without students wanting to push themselves and do better in school. We frequently speak about what Kip offers, but it’s the...
Is Covid still a barrier to children’s education in 2024?
Every week at Kip, Dave & Sue see evidence that the effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic on young people’s education are alive and kicking. Students present for Kip educational assessments missing key skills that would have been taken for granted prior to 2020. We...
When are the SATS and GCSE exams in 2024?
It’s approaching the important time of the 2023/24 academic year when UK-wide school examinations take place at both Primary & Secondary levels. Sue & Dave know that students and parents are focused on this period, as it can have such an important bearing on...
Never Heard of Kip McGrath?
Kip McGrath Education Centres provide professional tutoring services to children across various locations worldwide, including the UK. Centres specialize in English and maths tuition and cater to children of all abilities, aged 5 to 18, from those who are struggling...
The New School Year, 2024
The holiday season has ended; the last remnants of tinsel are packed away and students across the region have returned to school after the Christmas break. While the idea of trading cosy pyjamas for school uniforms might not be met with overwhelming enthusiasm, the...
What price is an amazing Maths teacher?
There’s general acceptance in education that Maths teachers are a breed apart. School-based maths departments are filled with a plethora of larger-than-life characters who are all exceptionally good at maths. For some, that love of numbers (and lots of more modern...
Kip McGrath Derby South reaches the milestone of 50,000 lessons delivered
In the grand scheme of things, this isn’t a significant achievement. For a small outpost of Kip McGrath Education Centres in Allenton, Derby and for hundreds of local children of all ages and abilities it’s of worthy importance. Sue & Dave have been all about...
What are the ideal conditions for my child to learn best?
What are the ideal conditions for my child to learn best? The past; 1976. The first Kip McGrath Education Centre opened in Maitland, New South Wales in Australia in 1976. Founded by schoolteachers Kip and Dug McGrath, that first tutoring centre has grown into the...
Inside the Kip Classroom – a Maths teachers’ perspective
In the Kip classroom, there’s no need for students to fear maths. Interactive learning, face-to-face or online, friendly and patient teacher support, puzzles and activities; these are all set out to help students make the maths journey fun and successful. Whether...
Kip McGrath Derby South Summer School 2023 is launched
Sue & Dave are excited to announce our Summer School for 2023, to take place during August at Kip McGrath Derby South in Allenton! Summer is a time of fun but can also be an opportunity to continue to make academic progress. If your child has any difficulty with...
GCSE’s 2023: Current grade boundaries – a simplified parents’ guide
GCSE exams have now finished for students in England, with results due to be published on Thursday 24 August. A nervous time awaits for 2023’s cohort. In England, GCSEs are now graded using a numerical system from 9 to 1, rather than from A to E, as was previously the...
Does my child need a tutor?
Given our combined 50-plus years of working in education; we are consistently presented with this question by parents. We feel compelled to share our response via this blog. Tutoring Tutoring is a modern (21st Century) invention. In recent years, as schools have moved...
The Coronation of King Charles III
Sue & Dave feel it would be irresponsible not to make reference to the biggest single event to take place in their lifetimes. We wanted to draw your attention to the event (The Coronation of King Charles III) planned to take place on a special day in May 2023. The...
Year 7 school admissions – a critical step for your child
Introduction Year 7 school admissions were announced by Derby Secondary School at the beginning of March. Your child’s real journey starts now. Based on recent discussions, the majority of Year 6 students have achieved their preferred (1st) choice of Secondary school....
Sue & Dave, Kip & Derby’s current cost of living crisis.
Don’t allow the current UK cost of living crisis to stop your child realising their full potential
Encourage my child to read
Since Sue & Dave opened Kip McGrath Derby South in October 2011 they have recognised the power harnessed by every child who is able to read fluently. In educational terms, the ability to read proficiently cannot be underestimated. Encouraging a reluctant and...
Kip McGrath Derby South’s 1,000th student
Kip McGrath - the beginning. When Sue & Dave began with Kip McGrath in 2011, they didn’t set out with grand plans to help 1,000 or more students to do better in school. Being able to help some local children realise their true potential was a sufficiently worthy...
Kip McGrath take the scary out of learning
With the imminent celebration of Halloween, and its' scary themes, it's the right time to explain how Kip McGrath Derby South are able to take the scary out of your child’s learning! Professional English and Maths learning without the fright-inducing scariness! Some...
Women’s Euro 2022 Final at Wembley
Sitting on the tube, excitement filled me as I got closer! For the first time ever, I would get to see the Lionesses play in real life, against Germany in the Euro Finals! Arriving at Wembley Way it was the best atmosphere I had ever experienced. It was incredible;...
Tuition at Kip; it’s always about the child
When Sue & Dave started Kip McGrath Derby South in October 2011, they had already researched a number of local education businesses, to find the one they considered to be the best fit. The most important criteria for tuition at Kip was always to “give the best for...
Education Partnership – Your Child’s School & Kip McGrath
For best effect, an education partnership between school and Kip is demonstrated to produce amazing results. Students often come to Kip for the first time as the result of an event at school. It might be a single event (parents evening) or a series of events (test...
Kip McGrath; build your child’s confidence; give them a lifelong love of learning
At Kip McGrath Derby South we’ve just reached the end of our Summer Term for the academic year 2021/22. It’s been a busy year for us, where we’ve continued to help hundreds of local students improve academically in their English and Maths, building their confidence...
The Primary to Secondary School Transition
The transition from primary school to secondary school for children can be one of their most exciting times, but also can be quite daunting too. The best way to ensure your child has the best experience during this time is to work together with both primary and...
What Exams and Tests are coming up for your Child at School?
One of the most important times of the academic year for Kip students is the period April-May-June. This is usually when their diligent efforts throughout the year are examined in school. Students in Years 2 and 6 sit UK statutory SATs tests, whilst students in Years...
What next for our children’s education? Summer 2022 is an opportunity to start the catch-up.
There has been a lot of dialogue over recent months regarding the effect the COVID pandemic has had on the educational outcomes of school-age children. Almost all students have missed some learning during the last 2 years. For some, this will have little lasting...
Boost Confidence and Self-Esteem through Academic Achievement
At Kip McGrath Derby South, Dave and Sue help children of all ages, 5 to 18, to do better in school in their English and Maths. It doesn’t matter whether they start at Kip whilst presenting as behind at school, keeping up with their peers, or ahead of their targets....
Kip McGrath Derby South Pen-Pals
At Kip McGrath Derby South, we’re proud to be part of an International Education business, helping children do better in school; not only in the UK, but in 15 English speaking countries around the world. We’ve had a pen-pal scheme running with the Kip McGrath Centre...
Kip McGrath Derby South honour Thando
During the Summer of 2021, a devastating accident took the life of Thando Ndlovu. We shared this grief with his family both at the time and subsequently. Thando was a young man, full of the best things in life and looking ahead excitedly to what his future held for...