Academic Coaching for Parents with Dr Anna York-Weaving

Does your teenager really know how to study effectively? We often encourage our children to work harder, manage their time and become more independent learners. But do they have the skills and methods to achieve this?

In this solo episode, I share my own academic journey and how it shaped my approach to learning and, ultimately, my mission as an academic coach.

I explore why studying is a skill that can be taught, practised and developed, and why understanding how to learn is fundamental to helping students become confident and independent learners.

In this episode, I discuss:

✅ Why the time spent studying doesn't always translate into effective learning.

✅ The importance of academic organisation and developing an optimal academic week.

✅ Why effective learning methods are essential for understanding, retaining and applying knowledge.

✅ How managing digital distractions can support concentration and independent learning.

✅ The role parents can play in helping their teenagers develop effective study habits and take ownership of their education.

Developing effective study skills is about much more than preparing for examinations. It is about giving students the knowledge, methods and confidence to approach their learning independently and reach their academic potential.

If you found this episode helpful, please consider sharing it with other parents who might benefit from the conversation, and subscribe to Academic Coaching for Parents for more insights into education, learning and adolescent development.

Upcoming Online Workshop for Parents

Join me on Tuesday 3 November 2026 at 7:30 pm (UK time) for How to Set Your Teenager Up for Academic Success, a practical online workshop where I'll share strategies to help you support your teenager's academic organisation, learning methods and digital habits.

Book your place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-to-set-your-teenager-up-for-academic-success-a-parent-workshop-tickets-2003344406047

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What shapes a young person’s mental health as they move through adolescence? Is it their developing brain, their family environment, experiences of adversity, sleep, screen use or the interaction between all of these factors?

In this episode, I’m joined by Professor Arielle Baskin-Sommers, Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at Yale University, a licensed clinical psychologist and Co-Principal Investigator for the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development, or ABCD, Study at Yale.

We discuss a recent paper she co-authored, What We Have Learned About Adolescent Mental Health and Where We Are Going After a Decade with the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, which brings together a decade of research from one of the largest long-term studies of brain development and child health in the United States.

Our conversation explores what this extensive body of research is teaching us about adolescent mental health, brain development and the complex relationship between biological, psychological and environmental influences.

🎙️ In this episode, we discuss:

✅ What the ABCD Study is and why its long-term design can give us a deeper understanding of adolescent mental health

✅ What the research tells us about adversity, family and wider environmental influences on young people’s mental health

✅ What we are learning about the links between sleep, screen use and adolescent mental health

✅ The relationship between executive function and adolescent mental health

✅ Why resilience remains an important area for future research

This is a fascinating conversation about what a decade of large-scale research can tell us about adolescent development and the importance of considering the many different factors that can shape a young person’s experience.

🔗 Links & Resources

📄 What We Have Learned About Adolescent Mental Health and Where We Are Going After a Decade with the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study - Baskin-Sommers et al. (2026), Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878929326000198

Professor Arielle Baskin-Sommers https://psychology.yale.edu/people/arielle-baskin-sommers

📩 Enjoyed this episode? Share it with another parent or educator and subscribe for more conversations with leading scientists, researchers and educators about learning, development and student wellbeing.

👉 Interested in personalised academic coaching with me? Book a free 30-minute consultation via my website to discuss how we can work together to transform your child’s academic journey:

https://www.york-weaving-education.co.uk/

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Is your child only a few weeks into the academic year and already feeling behind?

Perhaps they started with good intentions, but homework, assessments, extracurricular activities and independent study are already beginning to pile up. They may be working hard, yet still feel as though they are constantly catching up or unsure what they should be doing next.

In this episode, I explore why this often isn’t simply a problem of effort. One of the things I regularly observe through my academic coaching work is that students are trying to manage increasingly complex academic lives without a clear planning system.

I explain how creating an ideal academic week can help students manage their time more effectively, reduce last-minute decision-making and develop greater independence in how they approach their schoolwork.

🎙️ In this episode, we discuss:

✅ Why students can start feeling behind even when they are working hard

✅ Why avoiding a plan can sometimes become a form of procrastination or avoidance

✅ How I use my Ideal Academic Week framework to help students create structure around school, independent study, extracurricular activities and rest

✅ Why planning ahead can reduce the number of decisions students need to make each day

✅ How students can balance urgent homework with important longer-term work such as revision, consolidation and identifying gaps in understanding

Whether your child has just started a new academic year or is already feeling overwhelmed by competing demands, this episode will help you think differently about how their time and academic workload are being managed.

🔗 Links & Resources

📩 Enjoyed this episode? Share it with another parent or educator, and don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations on academic success and student wellbeing.

👉 Enrolment for my academic coaching programme is currently open. If your child would benefit from personalised support with planning, organisation, revision and independent study, you can book a complimentary 30-minute consultation via my website:

https://www.york-weaving-education.co.uk/

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Is anxiety always bad, and can we learn to outsmart it?

Anxiety is a normal part of life, but for some young people it can become difficult to understand and manage, particularly when it begins to affect learning, sleep or everyday routines.

In this episode, I am joined by Lily Felton, a trainee clinical psychologist at King’s College London and the author of Outsmart Anxiety: A Practical Guide to Understanding and Empowering Your Mind, published by Routledge.

Drawing on psychological research and practical strategies, Lily’s work focuses on helping young people better understand anxiety and develop tools for managing it.

Together, we explore what anxiety is, what may drive it and how it can shape learning and everyday life. We also discuss the role of hormones, sleep, diet and screen use, as well as practical strategies young people can use to respond to anxious thoughts and feelings.

🎙️ In this episode, we discuss:

✅ What anxiety is and how it differs from worry and stress

✅ What happens in the brain and body during anxiety and some of the factors that can influence it

✅ How anxiety can affect learning and how parents might recognise some of its less obvious signs

✅ The relationship between anxiety, sleep, diet, screen use and everyday habits

✅ Practical strategies that can help young people manage anxious thoughts and feelings

✅ Practical ways parents can support a young person experiencing anxiety

Whether you are a parent trying to better understand anxiety, a student wanting to make sense of your own experiences or an educator supporting young people, this episode offers an accessible and practical look at anxiety and the strategies that may help.

Disclaimer: This episode is for general educational purposes and is not intended as medical or psychological advice. If you have specific concerns about your child’s mental health or wellbeing, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

🔗 Links & Resources

Linkedin Profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-felton-9308b6198/

📚 Outsmart Anxiety: A Practical Guide to Understanding and Empowering Your Mind by Lily Felton

https://www.routledge.com/Outsmart-Anxiety-A-Practical-Guide-to-Understanding-and-Empowering-Your-Mind/Felton/p/book/9781041135036

📩 Enjoyed this episode? Share it with another parent, student or educator and don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations on academic success and student wellbeing.

👉 Interested in personalised academic coaching with me? Book a free 30-minute consultation via my website:

https://www.york-weaving-education.co.uk/

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Have you ever started a new school year determined that this one will be more organised, only to find that within a few weeks homework, deadlines and schoolwork are already starting to pile up?

The beginning of a new academic year provides an important opportunity to establish routines and systems that can make learning easier to manage throughout the year.

🎙️ In this episode, I discuss:

✅ How to establish a realistic routine for the new academic year

✅ Why setting clear expectations around homework, devices and responsibilities can help create consistency

✅ How to create a reliable system for managing deadlines, tasks and school commitments

✅ The importance of making revision notes as you go throughout the academic year

✅ Why addressing gaps in understanding early can help prevent students from falling behind

✅ Why consistent study habits throughout the year are more effective than last-minute revision

The beginning of the school year is an opportunity to create strong foundations before workloads increase and exams begin to feel closer. Small systems put in place now can help students become more organised, more independent and better prepared for the year ahead.

🔗 Links & Resources

📩 Enjoyed this episode? Share it with another parent or educator, and don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations on academic success and student wellbeing.

👉 Interested in personalised academic coaching? My Academic Coaching Programme is designed to help students become more confident and independent learners by developing the strategies, routines and skills they need to approach their studies more effectively. Book a free 30-minute consultation via my website:

https://www.york-weaving-education.co.uk/

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Have you ever wondered why your teenager can seem mature and thoughtful one moment, and impulsive, emotional or resistant the next?

Understanding what is happening in the developing teenage brain can help us make sense of some of the changes we see during adolescence and, importantly, shape how we support young people through them.

In this episode, I am joined by Dr John Coleman OBE, a leading psychologist specialising in adolescence whose work has helped shape our understanding of this stage of life. Dr Coleman has spent decades researching and working in adolescent development across psychology, education and policy, translating research into practical insights for parents, educators and professionals.

Drawing on his latest book, The Psychology of the Teenage Brain, published by Routledge, we explore what happens to the brain during adolescence and what these developmental changes can mean for behaviour, learning and everyday family life.

🎙️ In this episode, we discuss:

✅ How the brain develops and reorganises during adolescence

✅ Why teenagers can be particularly sensitive to rewards, novelty and new experiences

✅ The role of hormones and dopamine during the teenage years

✅ What executive function is, why it is still developing and how parents can support it

✅ Why sleep patterns shift during adolescence and how this can affect everyday life

✅ How social relationships, parenting and digital environments can shape the adolescent experience

Whether you are raising a teenager, teaching adolescents or simply want to better understand the developing teenage brain, this episode offers an evidence-informed perspective on what is happening beneath the behaviour and how we can better support young people through this important stage of development.

🔗 Links & Resources

📚 The Psychology of the Teenage Brain by Dr John Coleman OBE, published by Routledge https://www.routledge.com/The-Psychology-of-the-Teenage-Brain/Coleman/p/book/9781032363950

Dr John Coleman https://www.jcoleman.co.uk/

📩 Enjoyed this episode? Share it with another parent or educator, and don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations on academic success and student wellbeing.

👉 Interested in personalised academic coaching with me? Book a free 30-minute consultation via my website:

https://www.york-weaving-education.co.uk/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever heard your child say “I can’t do this” before they have even really tried?

A student’s belief in their own ability can influence how they approach challenge, how much effort they invest and how long they persist when learning becomes difficult.

In this episode, I explore the psychology of self-efficacy: our belief in our ability to succeed at a specific task. Drawing on the work of Professor Albert Bandura and research in educational psychology, I discuss the main sources of self-efficacy, its relationship with academic confidence and motivation and how parents can use this understanding to support the way their child approaches learning, challenge and setbacks.

🎙️ In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ What self-efficacy is and why it matters for students

✅ How mastery experiences can build a student’s belief in their own ability

✅ Why seeing other people improve can influence self-efficacy

✅ How feedback from parents, teachers and others can shape academic confidence

✅ How stress, tiredness and emotional state can influence what students believe they are capable of

✅ Why statements such as “I’m just not good at this” can become powerful beliefs about academic ability

✅ Why self-belief needs to be combined with effective study skills, strategy and consistent action

🔗 Links & Resources

📩 Enjoyed this episode? Share it with another parent or educator, and don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations on learning, academic success and student wellbeing.

🎓 I’ll soon be launching my new Academic Coaching Programme, designed to help teenagers become more confident, independent and effective learners by teaching them how to study efficiently, manage their time and develop an academic system that actually works for them.

👉 If you would like to join the waitlist or reserve a place for your child, book a free 30-minute consultation via my website:

https://www.york-weaving-education.co.uk/

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Have you ever wondered when your child actually has time to think deeply, apply their knowledge and reflect on how it all fits together?

Because deeper learning does not necessarily come from completing more tasks, but from having the time and space to analyse ideas, make connections and learn from mistakes.

Children often move from lesson to lesson, activity to activity and task to task, with very little time left simply to pause and think. In this episode, I explore how constant busyness may contribute to shallow learning and why reflection is such an important part of developing a deeper understanding of academic subjects.

🎙️ In this episode, I discuss:

✅ How constant busyness may affect the depth of children’s learning

✅ Why rushing through academic tasks can encourage students to look for shortcuts rather than understanding

✅ How self-explanation can help students connect new information with their existing knowledge

✅ Why making a mistake does not automatically result in learning

✅ Practical questions children can use to reflect after lessons and study sessions

✅ Three ways parents can create more time and space for reflection

Whether your child is preparing for exams, completing homework or simply trying to understand their subjects more effectively, this episode will help you encourage a more reflective, thoughtful and independent approach to learning.

🔗 Stay Connected

📩 Enjoyed this episode? Share it with another parent or educator, and don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations on academic success and student wellbeing.

👉 Interested in personalised academic coaching? Book a free 30-minute consultation via my website:

https://www.york-weaving-education.co.uk/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever wondered what mindfulness really means, and whether it could help your child feel calmer, cope with stress and improve their focus?

In this episode, I am joined by Dr Mark Pearson, author, educator and counsellor with more than 35 years of experience in expressive therapies. Together, we explore what mindfulness really is, why it has become increasingly important for children growing up in today's world and how parents can introduce simple, practical mindfulness activities into everyday family life.

Drawing on his latest book, Mindfulness and Relaxation Activities for All Ages, Mark explains why mindfulness is about much more than sitting quietly. We discuss how movement, creativity and guided relaxation can help children manage stress, develop self-awareness and build lifelong wellbeing.

🎙️ In this episode, we discuss:

✅ What mindfulness really is and why it matters for children

✅ How stress and overstimulation can affect children's wellbeing, focus and learning

✅ Why mindfulness looks different for every child

✅ Simple mindfulness and relaxation activities parents can introduce at home

✅ How creativity, movement and guided relaxation can help children develop resilience and emotional wellbeing

Whether you're supporting a child who struggles to switch off, finds it difficult to manage stress or you simply want to help your family build healthier everyday habits, this episode offers practical, evidence-informed strategies that you can begin using straight away.

🔗 Links & Resources

📖 Mindfulness and Relaxation Activities for All Ages by Dr Mark Pearson

 https://www.routledge.com/Mindfulness-and-Relaxation-Activities-for-All-Ages-Over-Sixty-Fun-and-Engaging-Evidence-based-Visualisations-Meditations-and-Self-awareness-Games/Pearson/p/book/9781041204381

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-pearson-8a08921b/

https://expressivetherapies.au/index.php

📩 Enjoyed this episode? Share it with another parent or educator, and don't forget to subscribe for more conversations on academic success and student wellbeing.

👉 Interested in personalised academic coaching? Book a free 30-minute consultation via my website:

https://www.york-weaving-education.co.uk/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 published over 280 research papers and authored a number of books, including several focused specifically on eating behaviour. Alongside her research, she has taught topics related to eating behaviour to students across psychology, medicine, nutrition and related fields for over three decades.

Professor Ogden has recently published her latest book How to Eat Well at Every Age, published by Routledge, and in this episode we explore some of the key ideas from the book together with insights from her wider research.

🎙️ In this episode, we discuss:

✅ What eating well means and why eating is shaped by more than nutrition

✅ Why children develop different eating habits and how these patterns form early

✅ What it means to be a “good food parent”

✅ The difference between overt and covert control and what the research tells us

✅ Why rewards and modelling can have a lasting impact on eating behaviour

✅ How body image and modern environments may influence children’s relationship with food

Whether you are navigating fussy eating, thinking about how habits form or simply looking to better understand your child’s relationship with food, this episode offers practical and research informed insights for parents.

🔗 Links & Resources

Professor Jane Ogden https://www.surrey.ac.uk/people/jane-ogden

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-ogden-3328504b/

📘 “How to Eat Well at Every Age” by Prof Jane Ogden

https://www.routledge.com/How-to-Eat-Well-at-Every-Age/Ogden/p/book/9781032987255?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23526953194&gbraid=0AAAAACWuhHW1ASIMzbfGL4HhazxWgkClq&gclid=CjwKCAjwuanRBhBSEiwAY5y6V_UNudSoMnTKXo0J-g3p-vGEOKz99RCYUJ2cz027C_4ETNHRGXv_mBoCyBcQAvD_BwE

📩 Enjoyed this episode? Share it with another parent and do not forget to subscribe for more conversations on academic success and student wellbeing.

👉 Interested in personalised academic coaching? Book a free 30 minute consultation via my website:

https://www.york-weaving-education.co.uk/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.