About the family
Francesca Joy is a parent of a GCSE student, Alexandra, who has ADHD. Like many families, Francesca had spent years trying to find the right revision support to help her daughter succeed academically, particularly in science, which Alexandra consistently found the most challenging.
Despite Alexandra being bright and capable, retaining information and staying focused during revision was always a struggle for her. Over time, this began to affect not just her grades, but her confidence and mindset towards learning.
‘My daughter has ADHD and has always struggled to focus and retain information, especially the science subjects.’
The challenge: focus, confidence, and tackling GCSE Science
Over the years, Francesca and her family tried numerous ways to support Alexandra. Costly private tutors and various study websites were their first options, but nothing made a real difference. Revision became a daily struggle, and persuading Alexandra to study often felt like a battle. Over time, this began to affect both her drive and confidence.
‘Initially we put it down to the private tutors not being a good match in their style of teaching, or the various online tutoring websites being too dull and repetitive.
‘My daughter’s mindset was becoming fixed on her not being good at science.’
She’s far from alone. Pearson’s 2026 School & College Report found that 29% of secondary students say ‘not feeling clever enough’ is one of the top factors affecting their learning, up four percentage points in a year. For students with SEND, where learning differences can be misread as a lack of ability, the risk of a fixed mindset taking hold is even greater.
Discovering Up Learn GCSE Chemistry
As GCSE mock exams approached, Francesca’s main aim was simple: to help Alexandra achieve at least a grade 4, a standard pass.
‘Prior to her GCSE mock exams, in our desperation to help her at least pass, we came across Up Learn for GCSE Chemistry.’
What happened next surprised her.
‘Within three days of the trial, I was totally astounded by my daughter’s reaction.’
What changed: revision that worked with her SEND needs
Despite her ADHD, Alexandra was able to concentrate for longer, steadily working through the course at a pace that suited her. Finally, Francesca noticed a real change in Alexandra’s attitude towards science.
‘For the first time, things made sense and she was independently choosing to revise Chemistry. She could sit for long periods of time, slowly getting through the topics.’
The teaching style made a noticeable difference, and the platform also provided reassurance as a parent.
‘She found the visuals and style of teaching very engaging, and the prompt with her percentage progress really increased her motivation… It also helped us as parents to monitor how much content she was covering.’
From bottom of the class to the highest score
When Alexandra sat her mocks, the results spoke for themselves.
‘Ultimately, the real test was her GCSE mock exam. To my surprise, she went from bottom of the class to achieving the highest score.’
While the exam result itself was a huge relief, Francesca believes the biggest impact went beyond grades. Alexandra’s experience with Up Learn changed how she viewed her own ability to learn.
‘Her exam result was a huge relief, although I think even more important was the impact on her confidence.
‘She has realised that with the correct style of teaching and effort on her part, she does have the ability to learn.’
Reflecting on her growth
Francesca can sense just how much more her daughter enjoys learning with Up Learn, as GCSE Chemistry didn’t just help Alexandra improve academically. It has rebuilt her confidence, independence, and belief in herself.
‘My only worry now is that she only wants to revise using Up Learn, but she still has other subjects to revise!’
Why this matters for other families
Alexandra’s starting point is increasingly common. Pearson’s report found that SEND is now the number one anticipated barrier to pupils’ learning, cited by 72% of school teachers. That’s up 15% since 2022. Schools are working hard to respond, but budget constraints, workload, and the sheer level of need mean many students with SEND aren’t yet getting the tailored support they need.
Up Learn GCSE Chemistry offers something that traditional approaches often cannot: a teaching style that adapts to the individual, that does not require a student to mask their learning differences or keep pace with a class, and that gives parents visibility into their child’s progress.
Schools are starting to get more support too. The UK government announced the inclusive mainstream fund this year, a £1.6 billion investment running from 2026 to 2029. The funding is designed to help schools strengthen inclusive teaching so that fewer pupils need a formal diagnosis before receiving support.
It’s a sign that what worked for Alexandra (the right teaching style, at the right pace, without needing to keep up with the rest of the class) is exactly the direction the system is heading.
For families navigating GCSE preparation with a child who learns differently, Francesca’s experience offers real reassurance. The right tools can change the outcome.
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'When students miss school, it gives them the chance to go over what they've missed in an interactive way. It's useful to have another way for students to learn.'
