Academic Coaching for Parents with Dr Anna York-Weaving

Have you ever wondered why your child’s eating habits can feel so difficult to manage, even when you know what healthy eating should look like? In this week's episode, I am joined by Professor Jane Ogden, Professor of Health Psychology at University of Surrey, whose work has shaped how we understand the psychological and behavioural factors behind how and why we eat. Professor Ogden has...

Have you ever looked at your child and felt that something has shifted in their motivation, their focus or even their engagement? In this episode of Academic Coaching for Parents, I am joined by Amber Chandler, an award-winning educator, author and speaker from New York, with over 20 years of classroom experience. Amber has recently published her book “ Reclaiming Connection ”, published by Routle...

Have you ever felt unsure how to support your child during exam revision season, despite wanting to help them succeed? Because more often than not, the challenge is not your child’s ability, but the lack of a clear system for how to revise effectively. Revision season can be a stressful time not just for students, but for parents too. It can feel like you are constantly trying to motivate, guide a...

Have you ever asked yourself, in a world shaped by social media, algorithms and constant information, how do we know if our children have the skills to think critically, recognise misinformation and think for themselves? In this episode, I am joined by Dr Maree Davies, a researcher and senior lecturer based at the University of Auckland, whose work focuses on critical thinking and how young people...

Have you found yourself wondering whether your child is actually revising properly for their GCSEs or A-Levels? In the final weeks before exams, many students are sitting at their desks, but without a clear plan, effective study strategies or a structured approach to revision. And as a parent, that uncertainty can feel incredibly stressful. In this episode, I unpack why this stage often feels over...

In a culture that celebrates busyness and long working hours, rest is often treated as something we earn after productivity. But what if that idea is completely wrong? In this episode of  Academic Coaching for Parents , I am joined by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, founder of 4 Day Week Studio and a globally recognised expert on the future of work. Alex has worked with companies, nonprofits and...

Have you ever looked at your child, perfectly capable, intelligent and full of potential, and wondered why they delay starting their work? Many parents describe this behaviour as laziness. But more often than not, something else is driving that behaviour. In this episode, I unpack what is really going on when students procrastinate or struggle to begin their work. Drawing on neuroscience, psycholo...

Have you ever felt confused or overwhelmed by your teenager’s behaviour and emotional reactions? In this episode of Academic Coaching for Parents, I am joined by Dr Bettina Hohnen, Clinical Psychologist and Lecturer at University College London, to explore what is really happening inside the teenage brain, and how understanding brain development can transform the way parents communicate, set bound...

Mock exam results can be unsettling, especially when they are lower than expected. Many parents feel pressure to act quickly, often assuming that more teaching or tutoring is the answer. I take a step back and look at what disappointing mock results actually tell us. I then outline practical ways parents can respond to support early progress. Rather than reacting with panic, we explore how mock re...

In this episode of Academic Coaching for Parents, I am joined by Kristina Karlsson, founder of the global stationery brand Kikki. K , bestselling author and creator of the Your Dream Life Starts Here coaching programme. Kristina’s journey is extraordinary. From a single 3am list that sparked a global brand, to navigating the loss of Kikki. K and stepping into a completely new chapter of her life,...

Have you ever looked at your child’s academic struggles and felt an urgent need to explain why ? Because one of the most consistent patterns I see in my academic coaching work is this: when students struggle, parents understandably rush to explanations, before checking whether the foundations for learning are actually in place. In this episode, I introduce a foundations-first approach to academic...

How do the brain’s natural rhythms shape attention, memory and learning? In this episode of Academic Coaching for Parents, I am joined by Professor Ole Jensen, Professor of Translational Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Oxford, to explore how brain oscillations - rhythmic patterns of neural activity - underpin attention, learning and reading. We discuss how these brain rhythms help to c...

Have you ever wondered why some of your child’s biggest learning moments happen in conversation - when they are explaining an idea, asking questions or debating something with friends? In this episode, I am joined by Professor Andrew Tolmie, Chair of Psychology and Human Development at UCL’s Institute of Education and Deputy Director of the UCL–Birkbeck Centre for Educational Neuroscience. Profess...

Is your child drifting through the school week - rushing homework at the last minute, staying up too late and never quite finding balance? In this episode of  Academic Coaching for Parents , I share how to design your child’s ideal week: a simple, flexible framework that helps them know what to do and more importantly when. Not a rigid timetable, but a rhythm that reduces stress, support...

Why does your child’s learning sometimes surge ahead, only to stall or even dip the next year? And what’s really happening in the brain during these uneven stages of growth? In this episode of Academic Coaching for Parents, I’m joined by Professor Rogier Kievit, Professor of Developmental Neuroscience at the Donders Institute, Radboud University Medical Center.  Rogier’s groundbreaking resear...

Why do teenagers sometimes struggle to plan ahead, stay focused or see things from someone else’s point of view? And how can parents support them through these changes? In this episode of  Academic Coaching for Parents , I’m joined by Professor Iroise Dumontheil, Professor of Psychology and ARC Future Fellow at the University of Melbourne. Her groundbreaking research explores how the ado...

What if stimulating the brain could help unlock learning, especially for children who struggle the most? In this episode of  Academic Coaching for Parents , I’m joined by Professor Roi Cohen Kadosh, Head of the School of Psychology at the University of Surrey and a world-leading cognitive neuroscientist. His pioneering research explores how safe, non-invasive brain stimulation can boost...

As the new academic year begins, many parents are asking themselves: does my child need a tutor? For years, tutoring has been the “go-to” solution when students underperform. But here’s the truth: tutoring often falls short. It repeats the same content children already hear in school, without ever addressing the real reasons behind academic underperformance. In this episode, I’m sharing why tutori...

⭐ What if the secrets to thriving in school were the same as performing under pressure in elite sport? In this episode, I’m joined by chartered psychologist and co-author of The Science of Learning , Bradley Busch. Bradley shares powerful insights from his work across education and elite sport, helping us understand how the brain learns best, what truly drives motivation and why academic resilien...

Have you ever felt there’s simply no time to stop and reflect, especially when you’re balancing the demands of teaching, parenting or supporting your child through the ups and downs of school? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Lucy Kelly, Associate Professor at the University of Bristol and Principal Investigator of the Reimagining the Diary project. We explore how reflective writing, even just a...

In this episode of Academic Coaching for Parents , I’m joined by Kate Jones, international educator, author and expert on evidence-informed teaching, for a practical conversation on how to study smarter and prepare effectively for exams. We explore how research-backed strategies like retrieval practice, dual coding and elaboration can transform revision and strengthen long-term learning. Kate also...

How can insights from neuroscience transform not only how students learn, but how they engage with some of the biggest challenges facing our world today? In this episode of Academic Coaching for Parents , I am joined by Professor Paul Howard-Jones, a leading expert at the intersection of brain science, education and climate change education. Based at the University of Bristol, Paul’s work explores...

Does your child seem more anxious, overwhelmed or avoidant as exams approach? In this episode, I unpack what exam stress really looks like, and why revision season is often the peak point for overwhelm. Because it’s not just about workload. It’s about uncertainty, comparison and the mental toll of trying to “get it all done.” You’ll learn why students overestimate what they can achieve in a day, w...

Have you ever heard your child say, “I just can’t remember any of this,” and felt unsure what to do next? In this episode, I unpack why so many students struggle with memory and what we, as parents and educators, can do to help. Because memory isn’t just about trying harder. It’s a skill that can be strengthened with the right strategies and support. 🎙️ In this episode, you’ll learn: ✅ How memory...

In this episode of Academic Coaching for Parents , I’m joined by Dr Carolina Kuepper-Tetzel, a cognitive psychologist and senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Glasgow. Known for her work on memory, retrieval practice and the spacing effect, Dr Kuepper-Tetzel is passionate about making cognitive science accessible and applicable for learners of all ages. Together, we explore the scien...