Parent Story: Academic Transformation - Will (13 Years)

The Challenge

Sarah knew something wasn't quite right with her son Will. For six years throughout primary school, she tried to get answers from his school about why he was struggling with writing, despite appearing bright and articulate in conversation. Will is a twin, and watching his brother Benjamin excel academically whilst Will fell further behind was heartbreaking.

"I've always known Will was different and I have sort of badgered the primary school for six, seven years to say something's not right, something's not happening," Sarah explains. The school tried basic interventions, dyslexia screeners, and coloured overlays, but nothing addressed the underlying issues. Will was masking his difficulties brilliantly at school, appearing to cope, then coming home exhausted and frustrated.

As secondary school approached, Sarah's concern grew. The faster pace, multiple classrooms, and increased academic demands would expose the growing gap between Will and his peers. She needed answers, but years of trying had left her feeling unheard and uncertain about where to turn next.

The Learning DNA Difference

Sarah booked a 360 degree assessment with Learning DNA before Will started secondary school, hoping to finally understand the full picture of what was happening.

"It's kind of like a breath of fresh air and a bit of reassurance for me as well," Sarah recalls. "It was a lightning bolt moment, which is really, really good and has made things so much easier."

The assessment uncovered connections that previous evaluations had completely missed. A birthmark on Will's eyeball, picked up at birth and dismissed as having no impact, was actually affecting his balance, gait, and how his brain processed information. Sarah could see the physical evidence, Will's school shoes wore down completely unevenly because his balance was affected.

"Following Learning DNA, his assessment and his block of work, his shoes are flat. It's unbelievable," Sarah says, still amazed at the visible transformation.

The Transformation

Learning DNA's personalised approach addressed Will's specific needs through targeted interventions, including movement therapy. Will engaged enthusiastically with the technology-based programme, never needing reminding to complete his sessions. He didn't see it as therapy, it was fun, interactive, and he could see the benefits.

The results were remarkable. In his mid-year chemistry assessment, Will scored 39% because he couldn't read the questions properly. By his end-of-year assessment, after working with Learning DNA, he scored 89%. Nothing else had changed except the targeted support addressing his root challenges.

"He came home from school and said, 'Mum, I get it now. I know why I couldn't answer any of the questions, I would read a line, miss a line, read a line, miss a line. Now I get every line,'" Sarah explains.

Beyond Academic Success

The most profound change has been in Will's confidence and self-belief. He now embraces his learning differences and believes in his abilities.

"He goes into school saying, 'I can do this and I can crack it in the classroom and I can show them.' His whole mentality and confidence has just skyrocketed," Sarah shares. "Twelve months ago, he would not have done that. He wouldn't have said that."

Will now talks about giving his academically gifted twin brother "a run for his money" in GCSEs, a complete shift from asking Ben to do his homework for a tenner.

Sarah's Advice to Other Parents

"Trust your parental instinct. If you know something's not right, keep pushing for answers," Sarah emphasises. "The whole interaction with Learning DNA, the electronic forms, the comprehensive reports, it's just so much more efficient. It's far better for 2025 kids. I sat and filled out the form, it was submitted, they read it, they came back. It was just so smooth really, the whole thing."

For Sarah and Will, Learning DNA didn't just provide a diagnosis or label. They uncovered the real root causes of Will's struggles and provided a personalised plan that actually works, transforming not just his academic performance, but his entire outlook on learning and his own potential.