Barston Blog

We have a wide variety of articles to inform, educate and amuse you as part of your learning journey! Whether you're starting your learning journey or at an advanced stage, we like to think that there's something of interest for everyone in our blog.

Latest Post

How to Take Better Notes at GCSE and A-Level

Taking notes is such a familiar part of studying that it is easy to assume we already know how to do it. You read a chapter, watch a lesson or work through some course material, writing down the important points as you go. By the end, several pages have…
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8 Dec '21

How to prevent burnout in your career

At the turn of 2021, health experts predicted an impending ‘burnout spike’ for Britain’s workforce. Research into Google Trends revealed a spike in searches for “symptoms of burnout” in the wake of the pandemic, while seasonal changes also made a difference. This article looks at how to prevent burnout…
30 Nov '21

What Is Counselling Exactly? Skills Needed & Courses

Counselling is a type of therapy that involves you and a therapist talking about your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours openly and honestly. This can lead to healing from past trauma or other difficult periods in life. Counsellors are skilled listeners who will never judge you for what they hear…
18 Nov '21

How to Work with Animals

Four-legged, furry friends make a world of difference in our everyday lives, and it’s hard to imagine life without them. From cuddles and snuggles on the couches to gallops in the outdoors, animals provide us with companionship, loyalty, adventure and unconditional love, which is why working with animals can…
12 Nov '21

Adult Social Care Roles & Career Paths

Adult social care is a vital part of our society that many people do not know much about; it is most often defined as providing services to adults with disabilities, chronic illness, or mental health conditions who are unable to perform daily tasks on their own.  If…

UCAS Points Explained

So you know exactly what your dream career looks like, but you're wondering how to get UCAS points? The next step towards your goal is to gain a place on a university course, power through an undergraduate degree and leap into a bright future. But in doing that,…
22 Oct '21

Midlife Career Change: Is Fear Holding You Back?

Quick Links Unanswered Questions Find Out from Someone Who Knows Take Your Time Identifying Your Skills Embrace Change Considering a midlife career change but overwhelmed with the fear of it going wrong? Or perhaps starting…
21 Oct '21

Are you an Early Bird or a Night Owl? Find Out with Our Quiz!

You’ve probably heard the term early bird or night owl. But it may surprise you that whether you prefer to be up with the larks or like to have a lie-in it isn’t just based on your own habits. It’s actually thought to be a part of our…
Reading time: 4 minutes

An Interview with Tomas Kirby: Student and Marathon Runner

At Barston College, we love to shout about our students’ achievements. So, we’re really pleased to say that our very own Tomas Kirby has run the marathon! To say we’re proud of Tomas for this achievement would be an understatement. Getting over the hurdles and completing the race…
20 Oct '21

How to Stay Motivated: Top Tips to Solve the Study Gap

In this article The Stats Speak for Themselves The Solution to the Problem How to Stay Motivated Do you feel that you’re behind when it comes to certain life skills you need? You’re not alone! A recent study by the Learning and Work Institute…
11 Oct '21

Why Study in the UK? 5 Reasons to Gain UK Qualifications

Are you wondering if you should study in the UK? Perhaps you’re based in another country and considering the benefits UK qualifications could bring to your career. Whether you’re thinking of studying A-levels in the UK, GCSEs or another distance learning course, there are…
10 Oct '21

A Beginner's Guide To Psychometric Testing

What is psychometric testing? Is there a scarier-sounding phrase? Whilst it might sound like you’re about to be attached to some kind of mind-reading device, the reality is far less horrifying. Psychometric testing is simply a series of relatively straightforward questions or tasks, designed to test your suitability for…
10 Oct '21

Does Your CV Pass Pertemps' Six Second Test?

Creating a CV that will land you a job interview can be tough, especially if you haven’t had to apply for a new position in a while. With job applications increasing exponentially and up to 200 applicants applying for each role, it’s vital that your CV makes a…
10 Oct '21

Finding A Job With A Disability Or Learning Difficulty

At the very best of times, working with a disability can be challenging. During a pandemic, trying to find a job with a disability can seem impossible. Research shows that disabled people are twice as likely to face redundancy and find it much more difficult…
10 Oct '21

How To Utilise Video CVs In Your Job Search

If you’ve been out of the job market for a few years, you probably think that applying for a job simply means handing out your CV and writing a decent cover letter. You’re half right; crafting great CVs and cover letters is incredibly important, and we walk you…
10 Oct '21

Five Recession-Proof Careers

Whether you’ve been made redundant, stuck in a tedious job for too long, or looking to enter the workforce for the first time, finding a new career can be tricky. Lots of industries have suffered as a result of the pandemic and subsequent recession and won't return to normal…
10 Oct '21

Three Profitable Businesses You Can Start From Home

With the current economic forecast, you might be wondering if it’s possible to start a successful business from home right now. The answer is yes! Here, we’ll run through exactly how you can do it, along with three businesses sure to profit. Bookkeeping Thorough and accurate bookkeeping is…
10 Oct '21

Resources For Mental Health And Crisis Support

It is not uncommon to feel a strain on your Mental Health, whether it's due to a situation you're going through or have gone through, or for another reason. Conditions such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, Bipolar, PTSD and many more are now starting to gain more recognition in society…
Reading time: 10 minutes
10 Oct '21

Six Ways to Build Your Confidence After Losing Your Job

Not to be confused with self-esteem or arrogance, confidence is a term used to describe how you feel about your ability to make decisions, carry out actions, and perform tasks. Being confident is about being sure of yourself, even if you sometimes make mistakes. However, when things happen that…
10 Oct '21

Tips For Dealing With Redundancy From Our Head Of Counselling

Faith Wilson is a counsellor with over 10 years' experience helping people work through trauma and grief to improve their lives. We spoke to her to get some expert tips for dealing with redundancy and job loss. “Why do we find dealing with redundancy so difficult?”…

Best Time to Study?

We often hear that people don’t have the time to study a course, or they’re worried that the course will take up too much of the spare time they do have. After all, it’s only natural to want to have time to relax as well as time for daily commitments, right? In…

No Motivation to Study?

Quick Links How to get motivated How to stay motivated Sandra's story Do you often find yourself lacking the motivation to change your circumstances? It’s probably more common than you think.    But is your lack of motivation due to not feeling fulfilled in your job? A recent global study…

Can't Afford to Study?

Quick Links Dislike your job? You're not the only one… Sandeep's story What are the payment options? Once that all important wage has hit our bank account, the large majority of us prioritise "important" activities and items that we…
29 Sep '21

What is a Russell Group University?

Applying to universities and even deciding where to apply can be an overwhelming time. Reputation, location, accommodation - there are so many different factors to consider. Chances are if you’re looking into applying to university, you’ve probably heard the term ‘Russell Group’. Here we’ll break down everything you need…
27 Sep '21

Redundancy After Furlough: How to Retrain

With the furlough scheme soon coming to an end, you may be wondering what your next career move will be. Some questions that could be running through your head may include: When does furlough end? What happens after furlough? Which jobs are in-demand? We understand that this can…
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