
The Alternative GCSE Podcast
Hello and welcome to the Alternative GCSE podcast … … I am your host Emma Howe, teen coach, advocate of education reform and I have a successful business within the education sector which I started 8 years ago … I started this as a way to help as many teens and parents of teens as possible to get talking and thinking about some important subjects that will help to carry them through the rest of their lives and help you all to be better and achieve more in your personal and professional lives.
Episodes
79 episodes
Season 3!!!!!! Episode 1 What's the point?
Why do so many teens feel lost, unmotivated, or totally disconnected from school — even when they’re doing well academically?In this opening episode of the new season, Emma explores why teens so often say: “What’s the point?” — ...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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9:50

🛑 Stop Doing Everything for Your Teen! How to Build Independence for Lifelong Success
Are you unintentionally holding your teen back? 🚦 Many teenagers struggle with problem-solving, time management, and resilience—not because they’re not smart, but because they haven’t had the chance to develop real-world skills...
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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15:24

The ultimate GCSE survival guide
In this ultimate GCSE survival guide, we cover everything you need to prepare for exams with confidence! Whether you’re in Year 10 gearing up for your first mocks or Year 11 deep into r...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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14:30

AI in the Classroom: Revolutionizing Teaching, One Tool at a Time
Imagine having a teaching assistant who works tirelessly 24/7, never asks for a pay rise, and helps you create bespoke lesson plans, communicate with parents, and even mark assignments. Sounds too good to be true? Well, that’s exactly what AI t...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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13:10

Christmas Connections: Reclaiming Family Time and Boosting Learning
In this special holiday episode, we’re tackling an issue many parents face: feeling like they’re losing their teens to screens while struggling to keep them engaged in meaningful learning. Join us as we explore simple, actionable ways to reconn...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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19:51

"Cultural Poverty: The Silent Barrier to Your Teen’s Success"
In this episode of The Alternative GCSE Podcast, we explore cultural poverty and its profound impact on educational outcomes. We discuss how limited exposure to cultural experiences, compounded by the overuse of screens, affects studen...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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16:27

The Importance of Financial Literacy for Teens in a Cashless, On-Demand World
In this episode of The Alternative GCSE Podcast, we explore the critical topic of financial literacy and why it’s essential for today’s teens. We’ll answer key questions, such as:How much debt is the UK population in, and w...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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13:04

Challenging Educational Biases: A Parent’s Journey
In this episode of The Alternative GCSE Podcast, we explore how hidden biases in schools can affect the support children receive, focusing on a mother’s journey advocating for her son with potential dyslexia. We discuss how teacher ass...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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16:24

Under the Radar: Why Some Students Miss Out on Education & Career Guidance"
In this episode of The Alternative GCSE Podcast, we explore a crucial issue affecting many students: the lack of adequate education and career guidance, especially for those from disadvantaged or migrant backgrounds. We start with a pe...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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17:03

Under the Radar: Why Some Students Miss Out on Education & Career Guidance"
In this episode of The Alternative GCSE Podcast, we explore a crucial issue affecting many students: the lack of adequate education and career guidance, especially for those from disadvantaged or migrant backgrounds. We start with a pe...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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17:03

"Mastering Your Study Mindset: How Small Wins Lead to Big Success" Summary for Listeners
“Feeling overwhelmed by revision or big projects? In this episode, we’re going to tackle how breaking your work into small, achievable goals—what I call ‘small wins’—can make a huge difference in your study routine. Whether you're aiming to imp...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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8:12

Breaking the Procrastination Cycle (Back to School Edition)
n this episode, we tackle one of the biggest challenges students face after a long summer break: procrastination. If you’ve ever found yourself putting off schoolwork, overwhelmed by the idea of getting back into a routine, this episode is for ...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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11:15

Some of the stories behind the scenes ...
In this episode I will explore some of the case studies of the students who I work with and what they have ended up doing ... the joy of watching someone grow and realise they can achieve things that they never imagined,
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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21:06

And just like that ... it is results day 2024!
An episode all about GCSE results day 2024!
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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17:48

Screen time and it's effects
It has been a while!I am so sorry - life has caught up with me but now I am back!Let's look into a deep dive of current research and findings from the UK select committee on the effects of screen time and what it means for ...
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Season 1
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Episode 66
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22:15

The truth about the GCSE 2024 cohort
I have been toying with the idea about speaking up on this but I think it is time. I have read enough posts to know that this year's year 11's are probably one of the most let down by our education system but also by Covid and the impacts on th...
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Season 1
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Episode 65
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33:02

How to get the most out of the next 8 weeks for GCSE students
Today we will be going through quite a bit! Establishing a Motivational Routine Mastering the Art of Taking Breaks Shaping Your Revision StrategyHow Parents Can Support TeenagersOve...
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Season 1
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Episode 64
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31:00

A review of revision youtubers ... and why they might just save your GCSE's
Throughout this episode I unpick a range of different youtubers and why they are great for helping you fill in the gaps!
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Season 1
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Episode 63
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13:00

Revising for final GCSE exams ... the home straight
So you have just finished your mocks ... and now you have 7 weeks left! It feels like it is never going to end ... so here is a podcast to set you up for the next 7 weeks!
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Season 1
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Episode 62
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14:59

10,000 hours ... how to become great at anything ...
Did you know it takes ten thousand hours to become an expert in anything? Well today, I talk about how you can use this concept to become great at anything. I also give some practical advice to parents about how they can help their children on ...
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Season 1
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Episode 61
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21:55

The countdown begins to exam season ...
In today's episode we will be talking about the importance of counting down whilst also managing stress - its a short one aimed at those sitting exams to get you ready!
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Season 1
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Episode 60
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10:55

Positive self talk
In today's podcast I talk about positive self talk and how self talk can either support or hinder your growth. I am not just going to be talking about academic growth but also growth as a person ...
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Season 1
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Episode 59
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21:11

How to deal with feeling overwhelmed
In today's episode I delve into what it means to be overwhelmed and how to deal with being overwhelmed. It can happen to anyone and often does happen to teenagers (and their parents) around this time of year. So hopeful...
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Season 1
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Episode 58
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19:32

The benefits of monotasking as a way to improve your grades
In today's episode I take a look at the benefits of mono tasking and how this approach to revision and working in general leads to better productivity and better results in whatever you are choosing to do. The episode a...
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Season 1
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Episode 57
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17:19

Tough conversations - why they are important to solve problems
In this episode I share some thoughts on the positive effect difficult conversations have with teenagers - and families as a whole and some fun ways to bring conversations back into the main frame of everyday life!
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Season 1
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Episode 56
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12:28
