How to Make the Most of Summer After Year 11: A Guide to Growth, Rest, and Readiness

1. Read Great Books (For Pleasure and Progress)

Summer is the perfect time to rediscover the joy of reading. Not textbooks or past papers—actual books that challenge your thinking, fuel your imagination, and broaden your worldview.

🧠 Smart Picks for Curious Minds:

• Fiction:
  • 1984 by George Orwell (Politics, Language, Surveillance)
  • Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (Science, Ethics, Creation)
  • The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (History, Culture, Morality)
• Non-Fiction:
  • Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari (History, Anthropology)
  • Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman (Psychology, Economics)
  • The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins (Biology, Philosophy)

Tip: Pick one book that aligns with your A Level subjects, and one that’s just for you. Keep a reading journal—not for homework, but for thoughts and reflections.

 2. Move Your Body: Build Strength, Energy, and Confidence

Let’s be honest: sitting for revision probably wasn’t great for your posture, mood, or fitness. Summer is your time to reset your relationship with exercise—not as punishment, but as empowerment.

Ideas to Explore:

• Try a new sport (climbing, boxing, rowing, martial arts)
• Commit to a daily walk or run (apps like Couch to 5K are great)
• Join a gym with a friend—even just for the social side
• Take up yoga or calisthenics for strength and mobility

Bonus: Regular exercise improves sleep, memory, focus, and mental health. All things you’ll want when September arrives.

 3. Pre-Read and Preview Your A Levels (Without the Stress)

You don’t need to “study” all summer. But dipping into your chosen A Level subjects will help you start with confidence instead of confusion.

Light-touch preparation:

• Browse the syllabus (search “[Subject] AQA A Level specification PDF”)
• Watch YouTube explainers for key A Level topics
• Read introductory guides (e.g. CGP Head Start to A Level books)
• Practice skills over content—essay writing, analysis, formula manipulation

Want to get ahead? Learn the top 10 terms, formulas, or theories for each subject you’ve picked. Make one flashcard per day. That’s it.

4. Get Work Experience or Volunteer (Even Informally)

A part-time job or a week of volunteering can be more valuable than you think.

• Teaches time management and responsibility
• Builds communication and confidence
• Gives you UCAS-worthy experiences
• Can help you discover or rule out future careers

Where to start? Ask at local charities, libraries, cafes, or even message professionals in areas you’re interested in (law, medicine, tech, etc.) for shadowing opportunities.

 5. Learn a New Skill Just for Fun

This is your chance to become a little more you—not just a student.

• Learn coding (Python is beginner-friendly)
• Master basic cooking (helpful when you move out)
• Start a blog, YouTube, or podcast
• Try photography, design, or music production

The goal isn’t to be perfect. It’s to experiment. Try something weird. Fail. Start again. Grow.

6. Rest, Reflect, and Recharge

Summer isn’t just for doing. It’s also for being.

• Sleep in—but not all day
• Have phone-free afternoons
• Journal once a week: How am I feeling? What have I learned?
• Spend time with people who inspire or ground you

This is a transitional season—between the person you were in secondary school and the one you’re becoming.

Let yourself enjoy the liminal space.

 Quick Checklist: The “Balanced Summer” Plan

•  Read 2–3 books (one fun, one smart, one subject-based)
•  Move your body 4+ times a week
•  Preview A Level subjects lightly
•  Volunteer or get a job (even a few days!)
•  Learn one new skill
•  Rest deeply and regularly

Final Thought: Be Curious, Not Perfect

Don’t turn summer into another checklist of achievements. Instead, treat it like a lab for self-discovery—where your curiosity, energy, and growing independence can thrive.

And when September arrives? You’ll walk in not just prepared, but energised.