A Grades from the A Team

KELSEY BRICKNELL

At the start of the year, St Peters Boarding partnered with A Team Tuition to provide additional study support for our younger boarders (Years 6-9). Now, in the second Term of the A Team ‘Transformer Prep’ program, we decided it was time to check in and see how it’s all going.

Coming to boarding school can be tough— not only do students find themselves at a new school (and, sometimes, in a new country), they’re also thrown into the deep end of communal living. Where there was once a whole house to themselves, there’s now cubicles, shared bathrooms and dining halls; where there was independent learning at home, there’s now Study in the Library with the rest of the boarders. While some students adapt to this quickly, others can struggle. Or, we should say, they used to.

In January, St Peters partnered with A Team Tuition—an organisation dedicated to enhancing the learning experience for boarding students. The program they deliver (the Transformer Prep program for Years 6-9 boarders) works to guide students on the path to self-directed learning. Through engaging tutoring assistance four days a week, students learn strategies to help them achieve top grades and become more confident and motivated learners.

A Team tutors visit St Peters boarders every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoon. Our Years 6-9 students are split into Year Level groups (five to ten students per group) and have a tutor assigned to them (the same tutor for the whole Semester). Instead of having to work out how to study alone, these students have been given a support network—they have access to their own, highly intelligent tutor who can assist them as they navigate the early years of secondary schooling.

So what does an A Team tutoring session look like?

“At the beginning of the sessions there are little activities that we do,” Year 9 student, Emma Udd, told us. “Sometimes they’re games and other times they’re activities to develop learning techniques.”

From there, there’s classwork and, if you need it, help with specific subjects.

“I typically try to get help with Geography and SOSE,” Emma shared, adding that while her tutor, Chris, has a Mathematics speciality, he always knows just how to help her with other subjects.

Emma’s experience with A Team Tuition, has been nothing but positive. Not only has she received the help she felt she needed with Geography and SOSE, but she’s also noticed that her grades are improving elsewhere.

“My Maths comprehension has definitely improved,” Emma said. “I understand the equations better now.”

When asked why she thinks the program has been so effective, Emma said it all comes down to the increased support.

“It’s good having a dedicated block to study in,” she reflected. “But more than that, the knowledge that someone is there if you need help is comforting.”

Emma hasn’t been the only one to notice the positive effects A Team Tuition has been having on St Peters boarders. Tutor, Charlotte Brown, has been working with A Team for a year and a half and says that she’s noticed an improvement amongst all the students in her group.

“They’re all improving in their own way,” Charlotte shared. “Some are becoming more confident in reaching out and asking more questions. Others are showing improvement in their work ethic and concentration.”

Having only worked with St Peters boarders for two Terms, we were interested to know what stood out most to Charlotte after working with our students.

“Their tenacity, in whatever they do,” she said. “Whenever I run them through an activity that is meant to help their learning experience, they’re determined to complete it to the best of their ability.”

On reflection, Charlotte said, the students involved with the A Team program have been completely open to challenging themselves and learning new things.

“It’s a complete testament to their character and the great environment they have surrounding them.” – Another instance of that ‘Plus Ultra’ attitude shining through!