Student Insights on Up Learn from Access to Sheffield’s Y13 Cohort

Introduction

As part of the University of Sheffield’s Access to Sheffield programme, Year 13 students were given access to Up Learn to support their A Level studies. At the end of the year, the programme team surveyed the students to understand how Up Learn impacted their confidence, learning experience, and academic readiness.

The results reveal a strong link between using Up Learn and improved student confidence – particularly in challenging STEM subjects – thanks to the platform’s structured videos, interactive quizzes, and clear delivery. Students also highlighted areas for improvement, many of which have already shaped recent product updates.

Boosting Student Confidence Through Simplified Learning 

One of the clearest outcomes from this year’s survey was a notable increase in student confidence across key A Level subjects. Many students described a shift in how they approached difficult concepts, thanks to Up Learn’s structured, step-by-step delivery. Features like short, focused videos and embedded quizzes helped break down complex material, allowing students to feel more in control of their learning journey.

Students commented:

“I now understand topics much better.”

“The videos helped me grasp difficult concepts.”

Subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, and Maths were frequently cited as areas where confidence had significantly improved due to the clarity and pace of the platform. This aligns with previous years’ findings and reinforces the role of Up Learn in building subject mastery through incremental learning.

Interactive Content That Drives Retention 

The platform’s interactive approach—particularly through quizzes and progress tracking—was highly valued. Students appreciated how these tools helped them identify knowledge gaps in real time, reinforcing concepts through immediate application.

Key student feedback included:

“The quizzes after every video really helped me understand what I grasped and what I needed to revise.”

“I like how the quizzes helped me check what I understood.”

These active recall features were highlighted as a vital part of revision, especially in the run-up to exams. Students found that consistent quizzing supported long-term retention and made them feel more prepared.

Ease of Use and Platform Experience

Overall, students rated the platform as user-friendly and accessible. The clean interface and intuitive navigation made it easy to locate specific topics and work through the curriculum efficiently.

Typical feedback included:

“It’s easy to use and navigate.”

“The interface is clear and simple to understand.”

This sentiment was consistent across STEM subjects, where students felt that the structure of content and clarity of delivery helped reduce overwhelm during revision periods.

Feedback Fuelling Product Improvements 

A recurring theme in this year’s feedback was the importance of exam board-specific alignment. While most students felt the content was helpful, a few noted gaps in exam board coverage – particularly in Chemistry for OCR and AQA specifications. Others expressed a desire for even more exam-style questions and topic summaries.

This constructive feedback has already influenced platform development. Up Learn has since enhanced its exam board-specific mapping and is actively working on expanding these tailored resources. Many of the students in this cohort may not have yet experienced these latest improvements, particularly if their usage tapered off after mock exams.

Some students also highlighted the value of more varied video formats and dynamic teaching styles to maintain engagement. Thanks to this kind of input, the content team is exploring new formats to boost learner interaction.

Student Suggestions for Continued Enhancement

• More exam board-specific content for Chemistry, Physics, and Psychology.
• Quick revision summaries for each topic.
• Integration of essay guides and exemplar responses, especially for essay-based subjects.
• Broader teaching styles to maintain engagement across different learners.

Key Takeaways

• Confidence Boost: Students reported a marked increase in subject confidence, especially in STEM subjects, due to the clear structure and engaging content.
• Effective Revision Tools: Embedded quizzes and active recall features were among the most praised elements.
• Platform Usability: The majority found Up Learn easy to navigate and use.
• Constructive Feedback Addressed: Suggestions around content alignment and engagement have informed recent platform updates, with more improvements underway.

Conclusion

The 2023/24 survey responses confirm that Up Learn continues to offer high-impact learning support, particularly in enhancing student confidence and content retention. The feedback also serves as a valuable roadmap for ongoing development. With updates already implemented in response to student input, Up Learn remains committed to evolving with learners’ needs, ensuring it stays a powerful, exam-focused resource for future cohorts.

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