Study Smart

Study Smart – Helping Every Student Become Their Best
At Ferryhill School, we want every student to have the tools and confidence to achieve their very best. That’s why we are introducing Study Smart—an exciting new way of helping students learn, remember, and succeed both in school and at home.

What is Study Smart?
Each Study Smart booklet begins with knowledge organisers for every subject. These first pages contain the key facts, vocabulary, and essential information students need to succeed.

After reviewing this core knowledge, students complete short retrieval activities designed to make the learning “stick.” At the centre of this is the simple but powerful technique: Look, Cover, Write, Check.

In school, students practise Study Smart during Afternoon Meetings (every day apart from Friday in Year 7). At home, just 15 minutes of Study Smart practice each evening can make a huge difference to long-term success.

How to Use Study Smart
When using the booklet at home, students should:

1. Review the Knowledge Organiser
o Begin by reading through the subject’s key facts, definitions, and vocabulary.

2. Use Look, Cover, Write, Check (LCWC)
o Look – read a section of the knowledge organiser carefully.
o Cover – hide the section so you can’t see it.
o Write – write down everything you can remember.
o Check – uncover the organiser and compare what you wrote, correcting any gaps or mistakes.

This method is powerful because it forces your brain to recall information, which strengthens memory and makes knowledge easier to retrieve in the future.

3. Add Variety with Retrieval Tasks
o Brain Dump – write down everything remembered on a topic without prompts.
o Self-Quiz – answer the practice questions linked to the knowledge organiser.
o Students may also wish to create a mind map, revision clock, or flashcards, as they have been taught how to use these strategies in school.

4. Repeat in Short Bursts
o Each activity should only take around 5 minutes.
o A short, focused routine is far more effective than cramming.

The Science Behind It
Research in cognitive science shows that retrieval practice—the act of recalling information from memory—is one of the most effective ways to strengthen learning. Each time students actively recall knowledge, they make it “stickier” in their long-term memory. This means:
• They remember more, for longer.
• They need less re-teaching in class.
• They grow in confidence and independence.
Over time, these small daily steps add up to big progress.

Why is this exciting?
• Builds independence: Students learn how to study effectively for themselves.
• Supports confidence: Knowing exactly what they need to learn helps them feel in control.
• Raises achievement: Stronger recall means better performance in lessons, assessments, and exams.
• Connects school and home: Parents and carers can easily see what their child is learning and support them at home.

How can parents and carers help?
Study Smart is designed to be a shared tool between school and home. By looking through the knowledge organisers with your child, asking them a few of the self-quiz questions, or simply encouraging 15 minutes of focused practice each night, you can make a real difference to their success.

Taught in school, used at home
All students are taught how to use Study Smart in school, so they know exactly what to do at home. This ensures they can practise independently and effectively, giving them the confidence and skills they need for the future.

Study Smart is about more than learning—it’s about helping students become their best selves and preparing them for bold futures.