Leaders in Learning, Wellbeing and Motivation
What Students Need to Succeed: What 1,600+ Students Told Us About Study Skills, Organisation, Attention and Academic Success Insights from The Super Generation's research across thirty-one Irish secondary schools. by Caoimhe Crotty and Ciara Connolly
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Motivational
Educational
Introduction
Every year we work with thousands of students across Ireland. While exam systems evolve and technology changes, one challenge remains consistent: students are rarely taught how to learn. This white paper shares the insights gathered from students across thirty-one schools and highlights the challenges shaping student success today. More importantly, it identifies the practical interventions schools can implement to improve outcomes.
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Executive Summary
Key Findings • • • • •
Organisation is the #1 challenge facing students. Attention and distraction are increasing barriers to learning. Many students lack confidence in how to study effectively. Targeted workshops consistently improved confidence across all year groups. 83% of students rated facilitators as engaging.
Why do students require additional support in study skills and wellbeing? Irish students spend thousands of hours learning curriculum content throughout their educational journey. Yet many receive little or no formal instruction in: • How memory works • How to study effectively • How to manage distractions • How to organise their workload • How to sustain motivation As a result, students often confuse effort with effectiveness. Many spend long hours studying without confidence that their methods are working. Others struggle to balance competing demands, leading to frustration, stress and disengagement. Across our research, one theme emerged repeatedly: Students are not asking for easier exams. They are asking for better learning tools.
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Executive Summary Insight 1: Organisation Has Become the New Academic Challenge When people think about academic success, they often think about intelligence, effort or motivation. However, our findings suggest that organisation may be one of the most significant predictors of student confidence. Across every workshop and year group, students repeatedly identified organisation as a major source of concern. For First Years, this challenge often emerged during the transition to secondary school. Students described feeling overwhelmed by multiple teachers, increased homework and unfamiliar expectations. For Junior Cycle students, the challenge evolved into balancing study with hobbies, sports and social commitments. For Senior Cycle students, organisation became closely linked to examination pressure and workload management. Students frequently described concerns such as: “I won’t get all my homework and studying done in time.” “Trying to fit in study with a busy schedule.” “Being able to balance the amount of time being put into each subject and my home life.” The challenge is not simply workload. The challenge is managing workload. Without structured systems for planning, prioritisation and routine-building, students often feel they are constantly reacting rather than proactively managing their learning.
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Why This Matters When students lack organisational skills: • Stress increases • Motivation decreases • Confidence declines • Study becomes less effective Schools increasingly recognise that organisation is not merely an academic skill. It is a wellbeing skill.
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Executive Summary Insight 2: Students Don’t Know How to Study Perhaps the most striking finding from our research was how many students expressed uncertainty about studying itself. Students repeatedly questioned whether their methods were effective. Many reported spending considerable time studying while remaining unsure whether they were making progress. Comments included: “Am I studying the best possible way for myself?” “I always feel that after spending hours on study, my study has not been fully effective.” “I am concerned about whether the study methods I am using will work.” This reflects a significant gap between effort and confidence. Students are willing to work hard. However, many have never been explicitly taught: • Retrieval practice • Memory strategies • Effective note-taking • Exam preparation techniques • Long-term retention methods As a result, students often rely on ineffective approaches that create the illusion of learning without producing meaningful retention. Why This Matters When students understand how learning works: • Confidence increases • Retention improves • Motivation strengthens • Independent learning develops Study skills are no longer optional extras. They are essential academic competencies.
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Insight 3: Attention Is Becoming a Learning Crisis A third challenge emerged consistently throughout the research: attention. Students described increasing difficulty maintaining focus during study. Many acknowledged that distractions, particularly digital distractions, were impacting their ability to engage with learning. Students told us: “Trying to sit down and study without getting distracted.” “Trying to focus and not get distracted with my phone.” “Getting distracted and not being able to get back into study mode.” Attention challenges appeared across all age groups. Students understood the importance of concentration but often lacked practical strategies for managing distraction. The issue extends beyond productivity. Attention is directly linked to memory, retention and learning quality. Students who cannot sustain focus struggle to engage deeply enough with material for meaningful learning to occur.
Why This Matters Attention management is becoming one of the most important learning skills schools can teach. As educational environments become increasingly digital, helping students understand focus, distraction and cognitive overload will be essential for future success.
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Executive Summary So, what worked for us? While the challenges facing students are significant, the findings also provide reason for optimism. Across all workshops delivered by The Super Generation, students reported measurable improvements in confidence. Key outcomes included: CBA Skills Workshop Students demonstrated substantial gains in confidence regarding: • Referencing • Research skills • Assessment understanding Confidence in referencing increased by more than 40%. Junior Cycle Action Plan Workshop Students reported increased confidence in: • Study planning • Motivation • Balancing study and personal commitments Senior Cycle Study Skills Workshop Students demonstrated improved confidence in: • Organisation • Study ability • Motivation • Work-life balance
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Leadership Workshop The most significant improvement was observed in public speaking confidence, alongside gains in teamwork and leadership readiness. Importantly, improvements extended beyond confidence measures. Students consistently described workshops as: • Practical • Engaging • Helpful • Motivating Teachers and parents reported similar observations, highlighting the relevance of the content and the quality of facilitation.
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Executive Summary Understanding Today’s Student: Why We Conducted This Research At The Super Generation, we believe that meaningful student support begins with understanding the reality of the student experience. Over the past academic year, we undertook a large-scale research project across thirty-one secondary schools to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges, concerns and learning needs facing students in Ireland today. Rather than relying on assumptions, we wanted to hear directly from students about their experiences of learning, studying, motivation, organisation and academic pressure. Through pre- and post-workshop surveys, student feedback, teacher observations and parent perspectives, we gathered insights from students across First Year, Junior Cycle, Senior Cycle and student leadership programmes. Our objective was twofold: • •
To identify the most significant barriers affecting student confidence and academic success. To measure whether targeted interventions, such as our programmes, could positively influence students’ confidence, skills and preparedness.
What emerged was a clear picture of a generation of students who are highly motivated to succeed, but who often lack the practical tools and strategies required to navigate modern education effectively. Across all year groups, three recurring themes consistently emerged:
Organisation Students reported difficulties managing workload, balancing commitments and creating effective study routines.
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Study Skills Many students expressed uncertainty about how to study effectively, retain information and prepare for assessments.
Attention and Focus Students increasingly reported challenges with concentration, distraction and maintaining focus during independent study. While these findings highlighted significant challenges, they also revealed an important opportunity. When students were provided with practical, evidence-informed strategies through targeted workshops, measurable improvements were observed across a range of areas, including study skills, organisation, motivation, leadership and communication. Overall, students reported increases in confidence following participation in workshops. Teachers, parents and students consistently described the programmes as engaging, practical and beneficial. Importantly, feedback suggested that the workshops did more than address immediate concerns; they provided students with strategies and tools that could be applied throughout their educational journey. The findings presented throughout this white paper offer valuable insight into the evolving needs of students and the types of support that can help them thrive academically, personally and socially.
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Executive Summary A New Way Forward Turning Research into Action Research is only valuable if it leads to meaningful action. At The Super Generation, our goal was never simply to identify the challenges students face; we wanted to understand how those challenges could be addressed in practical, sustainable ways that support both academic achievement and student wellbeing. The findings from our research provide a clear picture of the realities facing students in Irish schools today. While organisation, study skills and attention emerged as the most significant challenges, the research also highlighted an important opportunity: when students are given the right tools, strategies and support, their confidence and engagement improve. As a result, these findings have directly shaped the next generation of resources, workshops and supports developed by The Super Generation. Rather than relying on fixed programmes, we continuously review student feedback, workshop data and emerging educational trends to ensure our supports remain relevant to the evolving needs of students.
Responding to the Attention Challenge One of the most significant findings from this research was the prominence of attention and focus as barriers to learning. Students consistently reported difficulties concentrating, managing distractions and maintaining focus during independent study. While attention had emerged informally through previous conversations with students and educators, this research highlighted just how widespread the issue had become. In response, we have introduced a dedicated Attention and Focus module within our Junior Cycle and Senior Cycle journals for the 2026/2027 academic year.
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These new sections provide students with practical, evidence-informed strategies designed to: • Manage distractions and digital interruptions • Reduce multitasking • Improve concentration • Build sustainable focus habits • Understand how attention impacts learning and memory By helping students develop greater awareness of their attention habits, we aim to equip them with skills that extend far beyond the classroom.
Supporting Organisation and Planning Organisation emerged as the most consistent challenge across all year groups. From First Year students adjusting to increased workloads to Leaving Certificate students balancing study, extracurricular commitments and part-time work, students repeatedly expressed difficulties managing their time effectively. To address this need, we have expanded our organisational support through the development of our Monthly Student Study Skills Calendar. This resource provides students with practical planning tools that encourage: • Effective time management • Goal setting • Study scheduling • Routine development • Balance between academic commitments and wellbeing In addition, organisation and study planning have become central components of all workshop delivery, ensuring students leave with practical strategies they can immediately apply to their own circumstances.
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Executive Summary Improving Study Skills Through Evidence-Based Learning A recurring finding throughout the research was that many students were unsure how to study effectively. Students frequently questioned whether their study methods were working and expressed concerns about memory, retention and exam preparation. To address these challenges, The Super Generation continues to embed its POKER Study Method throughout our workshop delivery and student resources. The POKER method was developed to address common barriers to effective study by focusing on both efficiency and long-term retention. Key benefits include: • Time Efficiency: Structured note-taking designed to help students produce effective study notes in approximately 30 - 40 minutes. • Memory Development: The use of pre-testing, post-testing and structured visual note-taking to strengthen long-term memory and retrieval. By combining learning science with practical application, students gain study strategies that are both manageable and effective.
Providing Subject-Specific Support While many student concerns related to study skills and organisation, a significant number also highlighted difficulties with individual subjects. To provide additional support in this area, we collaborated with our sister company, The Tuition Centre, to develop comprehensive subject-specific factsheets.
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These resources are embedded throughout our Junior Cycle and Senior Cycle study journals and provide students with practical guidance, key information and targeted support across a range of subjects. The aim is to ensure students have access to both effective learning strategies and subject-specific resources when they need them most.
Strengthening Motivation Motivation emerged as another recurring theme throughout the research. Many students understood what they needed to do but struggled to maintain consistency, particularly during periods of academic pressure. In response, we have developed a dedicated Motivation Workshop designed specifically to help students: • Reconnect with personal goals • Build positive learning habits • Develop self-belief • Sustain effort during challenging periods • Understand the relationship between motivation and achievement This workshop complements our existing study skills support by addressing the mindset and behavioural factors that influence long-term success.
Extending Support Beyond the Workshop One of the key lessons from this research is that student development cannot be achieved through a single intervention. Meaningful change requires ongoing reinforcement and opportunities for students to apply new skills over time.
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Executive Summary For this reason, we believe support should not end when the facilitator leaves the room. Schools that participate in our programmes receive access to additional supports including: • Monthly Student Study Skills Calendars • Study journals and workbooks • Online resources and articles • Practical learning and wellbeing supports • Regularly updated student resources informed by current research These resources are designed to help students continue developing the skills introduced during workshops throughout the academic year.
A Commitment to Continuous Improvement The educational landscape continues to evolve, and so do the challenges facing students. At The Super Generation, research is not a one-off exercise. It is an ongoing commitment. We regularly analyse workshop feedback, student insights and educational trends to ensure our resources remain aligned with the real-world experiences of today’s students. By combining research, practical intervention and continuous development, we aim to provide schools with evidence-informed supports that address both current challenges and future needs. The findings presented in this white paper have reinforced a simple but important principle: when students understand how to learn, organise, focus and motivate themselves, they are better equipped to succeed not only in school, but throughout life. The future of student support lies not simply in helping students achieve more, but in helping them develop the skills, confidence and resilience needed to thrive.
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Conclusion Supporting the Next Generation of Learners Our research across thirty-one Irish secondary schools revealed three consistent challenges facing students today: organisation, study skills and attention. Students repeatedly told us they want to succeed but often lack the tools, strategies and confidence needed to manage workloads, study effectively and stay focused. The good news is that our targeted programmes have proven to make a meaningful difference. Across all programmes, students reported measurable improvements in confidence relating to study skills, organisation, motivation, leadership and communication. Students, parents and teachers consistently described workshops as engaging, practical and beneficial, with feedback highlighting the lasting value of the strategies and resources provided. These findings reinforce an important message: supporting student success is about more than academic content. It is about equipping students with the essential skills, confidence and resilience needed to thrive both in school and beyond. At The Super Generation, we use research to continually refine and improve our workshops, journals and resources, ensuring they remain relevant to the evolving needs of today’s students.
Partner With Super Generation Whether your school is looking to support First Year transition, CBA preparation, study skills, motivation, wellbeing or student leadership, our evidence-informed programmes are designed to create meaningful and measurable impact. To learn more about bringing The Super Generation to your school, contact our team: www.thesupergeneration.com / info@thesupergeneration.com
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ULTIMATE ULTIMATE STUDY STUDY WORKBOOKS WORKBOOKS High High Value. Value. Easy Easy Delivery. Delivery. Real Real Impact. Impact.
€8.50
This workbook helps students study effectively, plan their work and track their learning. Flexible and easy to implement, it complements existing school initiatives while helping students build exam readiness and key skills in organisation, memory and attention.
This workbook: Strengthens focus, organisation and independent learning skills Teaches practical, exam-focused study strategies Builds effective note-making and revision techniques Develops goal-setting and time management skills Encourages reflection and ownership of learning
Additional School Benefits: Includes online teacher resources to support delivery of an internal study skills programme within schools Designed for easy integration into Wellbeing/Guidance classes
“I love the planners and timetables.” STUDENT FEEDBACK
– Student, Kildare Town Community School
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WORKSHOPS FOR STUDENTS
Understanding Learning for First Years
CBA Skills Workshop for Junior Cycle Students
This was amazing. I feel like I can concentrate more.”
This workshop explained a lot of unanswered questions
Student at Cólaiste Mhuire
Student at Sacred Heart Drogheda
Third Year Action Plan
Learning and Study Skills for Senior Cycle
Really inspiring and has showed me how I can study properly”
This was the most helpful and beneficial workshop we had at the school”
Student at St Killian’s
Student at Presentation Wexford
Developing Leadership Honestly it was a really good experience and I have learned lots of tips” Student at Edmund Rice Dublin
Workbooks Included
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Leaders in Learning, Wellbeing and Motivation
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T: 01 808 1494 | F: 01 836 2739 | E: info@thesupergeneration.com
Inspirational
Motivational
Educational