Why heat makes you stupid

There’s a specific kind of summer brain that feels like trying to do calculus inside a hairdryer. You’re technically conscious, but only just. You go to the fridge and forget why, aside form to stick your face in it. You reread the same sentence four times and still

13 ways to ruin a perfectly good Friday

A mathematical and scientific wander through the weirdness of Friday the 13th.

How to flunk it, fix it, and kick the door in

June 6th deserves a pause. Not the poppy-emoji-on-stories kind. A proper pause — the kind where you stop, breathe, and realise this day changed everything. Because on this day in 1944, thousands of mostly young men (many the age of Year 13s) climbed into boats, planes and gliders, crossed the English

What's the plan?

You sit down. Ninety minutes on the clock. A question in front of you. Your mouth’s gone dry, your pen feels like a weapon you’re not trained to use, and the question is staring at you like a cat judging your life choices. This is not the time

Oxbridge interview prep... powered by IKEA?

I have stared into the abyss. The abyss has a name. It is SKÅRNVIK. It arrived in a toe-breakingly heavy IKEA-branded cardboard sarcophagus which seemed far too small to contain anything more ambitious than a sandwich. Yet, it promised a sleek, white monolith of drawers, quiet despair and my all-night

The F-word nobody likes

Failure. Tuesday night, in a valiant attempt to bake my daughter a surprise birthday cake, I found myself knee-deep in disaster. Again. I’ve been here before. It all started with my son's first birthday cake. I misjudged the flour-to-egg ratio and ended up with a number “1”

Run like you stole it

Last Sunday, while over 50,000 people ran the London Marathon, I completed a much shorter (and lazier) event: the “Watch-Athon.” Cuppa? Check. Curious brain? Double check. Admiration? Absolutely. And no intention of joining in. I hate running. If you see me sprinting, call for help — I’m either being

What teachers don’t tell you about science success

Science isn’t just for the lab-coated elite. You don’t need goggles, a Bunsen burner, or a grant from NASA. You just need a match, a slinky and a sense of curiosity. Whether you’re a teacher looking to spark curiosity in your students or a parent hoping to

How to turn ‘reading is boring’ into literary gold

Ever seen someone parallel park like a pro? One fluid move, no hesitation. Meanwhile, the rest of us are stuck doing a 17-point turn, with a line of cars silently judging. Reading is kind of like that. Some kids glide into books effortlessly, no awkward gear shifts, no panic. Others?

I know what you'll be doing on Sunday

As if getting teenagers out of bed isn’t hard enough... Knock once—silence. Knock twice—still nothing. Crack the door open and a groggy voice, thick with betrayal, mumbles, “Five more minutes.” Except on Sunday, five minutes is actually sixty-five, because British Summer Time (BST) has swooped in overnight,

Why energy is everything (even when you have none)

In his famous Proverbs of Hell, William Blake declares: "Energy is eternal delight." Apt, I thought, as I surveyed the Monday morning carnage. The kids were practically asleep in their porridge bowls—about as lively as a phone on 1% battery. On the bus stop walk, they were

Oh, for the love of frogs!

It happened this week—a subtle, undeniable shift in the air. The days are stretching out just a little longer. Light past 5pm! Actual, real daylight! Naturally, this sent me spiralling into deep, existential thoughts about nature (as one does). Daffodils are limbering up for their grand entrance, and the

Half Term Survival Guide: Just One Thing A Day!

Golden-eye: train your inner 007

I don’t know how she does it. No matter where I hide the good snacks—behind the cereal boxes, in the vegetable drawer (a classic decoy), even in a container labeled “Quinoa”—my 11 year old daughter always finds them. Meanwhile, her teenage brother is blindly rummaging through the

Are you a chicken or an eagle?

Careers. The most overwhelming topic for kids. Ask any child what they want to be when they grow up. You’ll get one of two answers: a confident declaration… or a blank stare. But what if I told you... most people have no idea what's possible because they&

Benjamin Franklin’s secret to smarter learning

Last week, I stared at my kids’ weekly schedules—swim training, music practice, production rehearsals, weekend galas, and race events away from home—and thought: “Where on earth are we supposed to fit in homework, let alone the extra revision they need to keep up academically?” If you’ve felt

The Christmas debate you didn’t know you needed.

Sharpen your kids' minds and give them the edge they need— from the classroom to the future job market.

Debate like a pro

Here are some fun and clear guidelines to ensure a productive and respectful debate.