How to Tell If Your Child Is Struggling with English (Even If Their Grades Seem Fine)

Is your child doing fine in English… but something just doesn’t feel right? Maybe the grades are OK, the homework gets done – but you’re still worried.

You wouldn’t be the first parent to sense something is off, perhaps they don’t seem to be as engaged with English as they used to be – or it’s no longer a subject they seem to like.  So how can you tell if they’re really struggling – before the panic of Year 11 sets in?  Here are some things to look out for:

1. They Can’t Explain What They're Learning

Ask them what they did in English today and you get: “Just some stuff from a book.” Or worse: “I dunno.” It’s not that they’re not doing anything – it could be that they just don’t understand it deeply enough to explain it. That’s a red flag. Confident students can talk about what they did and what they learnt.

2. They Hate Writing – and Avoid It

Reluctance to write isn't always laziness. If your child:

·         Freezes at the blank page

·         Avoids timed tasks

·         Leaves exam questions half-finished…it could be a sign they’re overwhelmed, not under-motivated.

3. They Memorise – But Don’t Understand

Some students do well in quizzes by memorising quotations or key points, but when it comes to analysing a poem or structuring a viewpoint essay, they’re lost. Surface-level knowledge does not go far in English – the analysis is key.

4. They’re Easily Discouraged

Do they give up quickly if they get something wrong? Say things like “I’m just bad at English”? That lack of confidence is often a deeper issue than ability – and it can spiral fast without support.

5. Feedback Doesn’t Lead to Progress

If they keep getting the same comments (like “analyse more deeply” or “explore the writer’s methods”) but don’t know what those comments mean, or how to action them, they’re stuck. Feedback only helps when a student knows how to act on it.

So What Can You Do?

Here’s what I recommend to parents:

·         Ask them to bring their English book home.  Quite simply, it is the most comprehensive way for you to get the full picture.  Is work complete?  Do they use full sentences?  How is their spelling and punctuation? Are they writing at length? Do they take pride in their work?  If their book demonstrates no issues, then they more than likely are doing okay.

·         If they are struggling, notice the patterns: Is it just one topic – for example, they seemed to be okay but then they began a poetry unit and it went downhill.  Is it just the reading analysis side?  How are they doing with creative writing pieces?

·         Are they struggling in other written subjects?  If they are also having issues in geography or history, this would point to an issue with writing longer answers.

·         Seek early support: The earlier you act, the longer your child has to really fix the issue and to progress.

What is the solution if your child is struggling?

There is a lot of support out there, online, for free.  Once you know what your child needs, you can work with them to help them improve in these areas.

Or, you can take the faster, and more direct approach and pay a professional to work with your child.

The Much Ado Academy offers all the support your child needs in small group tuition at just £30 a week. For more information, click the button below!