Ellie Dudley shares her tips for starting the school year off strong.

I remember the feeling vividly: the mix of excitement and nerves as September approaches, buying all kinds of new stationery in bright colours, organising my bag and vowing that it will be the best school year yet… only to return to school and realise that school isn’t as easy as I thought. Bags get messy, stationery gets lost, and just like that, the back to school feeling is over. But…what if it didn’t have to be like that?

As a student who has recently completed her schooling from Reception all the way to Year 13, I think it’s safe to say that I’ve learnt some tips along the way. So, I hope you can learn from my experiences to have the best school year yet!

First and foremost, organisation is your best friend. I know it can seem dull (organising was always the task I was most reluctant to do), but it can truly change your whole school experience. My best advice would be to start small. Make sure your pencil case contains multiple copies of everything you NEED, like pens, pencils, sharpeners and erasers. Once you’ve got that sorted, THEN you can go in and add all the extra stationery that is a little more fun, like glittery highlighters (yes, they exist).

Planning your week also filters into this idea of organisation. Get yourself a nice planner (or use a virtual one if you prefer), and write in all your homework and revision for the week. I colour-coded this for all of my subjects too, just for that extra bit of structure!

Another essential tip is to look after yourself, physically and mentally. During the exam years of Years 11 and 13, I tried meditation and yoga in the mornings before school. Just by waking up ten minutes earlier than usual, I was able to prepare my body and mind for a busy (and likely stressful) day of school. Not only is this great for starting the day in a calm and enjoyable manner: this momentum can also carry you throughout the day, putting you in a better mood and helping you to tackle all your tasks with ease.

For those years in between exams, it is vital that you build good habits. Start revision earlier than you think you need to and read for fun – it makes academic readings much easier when you already consider reading as a hobby rather than as a chore.

Overall, the key to success is staying on top of things. Take a little time each week or every month to ensure that everything stays organised.

It is also important to bear in mind that the school year fluctuates. Sometimes work is hard, and that can be frustrating. All I can advise is that you should try to keep a positive mindset. The work won’t always be hard. One day soon, it will click, and everything else will fall into place. Just stay positive and believe that you can do it. School is as much about self-belief as it is about the revision itself.

I would also point out that what are generally coined as ‘academic’ subjects, such as English or Maths, are not the only avenue. I chose Drama for one of my GCSE subjects, and I know friends who picked subjects such as Design and Technology (DT) and food tech! Sometimes students enjoy being more hands-on, and sometimes, people prefer written subjects. Whatever you prefer, just remember to seize every opportunity! Never made anything out of wood before? No problem – DT can teach you that. While you are at school, take every opportunity you can. Also, do what you enjoy. At the end of the day, life is about enjoying yourself!

However, there is one piece of advice that I will always share above everything else. Do your homework on the day that it is set. Or, if this is not plausible, make a start. That way, you can always ensure that your homework is handed in on time, without needing to rush around at the last minute trying to complete it. This tip saved me throughout secondary school, so if there is one piece of advice that you take away from this article, let it be this.

Overall, the key to success is staying on top of things. Take a little time each week or every month to ensure that everything stays organised. If something doesn’t work, try a different strategy. Aim to get your homework done as soon as possible. Most importantly, stay positive and believe in yourself.

Good luck for the school year ahead – you’ve got this.