Success Stories

Student: Leo, Year 6 (Primary School)

Subject: African Geography & Capitals

The Challenge: 54 Countries, 54 Capitals, and a looming end-of-term assessment.

The Problem

Leo was staring at a flat map of Africa. To him, it was just a "jumble of shapes and names." He would learn Egypt one minute and forget it the next. He felt like he was "leaking information" as fast as he could read it.

The Flip Flash Intervention

Leo’s tutor introduced the Flip Flash Learning Board. They didn’t try to learn all 54 countries at once. They picked 25 and built the grid.

• The Setup: Leo created 25 cards. On the front, he drew a Pyramid for Egypt; on the back, he wrote Cairo.
• The Breakthrough: Using the flip flash method, Leo didn't move to Card 2 (Sudan) until Card 1 (Egypt) was locked in. By the time he reached the end of the first row, he had already tested himself on Egypt five times!
• The "Snake": When Leo hit the second row, he started moving right-to-left. This change in direction woke his brain up. He wasn't just memorizing a list; he was memorizing a place on the board.

The "Ultimate Challenge" Result

On the final day of the term, Leo’s tutor removed every single card from the board.

The Result: Leo pointed to the empty square in the middle of Row 3 and instantly said, "Angola—Luanda!" By turning the information into a tactile map, Leo didn't just pass his test—he became the "class expert." He then flipped the board over to the magnetic side to group the countries by region and trade routes for his final essay.

Daniella 

Jonathan came highly recommended. My daughter has an EHCP, a severe developmental language disorder, and difficulties with her working memory. In the very first session, Jonathan took the time to truly understand Freya’s needs and spoke openly and gently with her about the challenges she faces.


He introduced Freya to a visual drawing technique followed by the flip flash learning strategy. At the start of that first session, Freya described her working memory as “rubbish.” By the end, she had recalled over 24 facts about the Treaty of Versailles. We were both amazed at how effectively she was able to remember so much using this approach.


We then had a second session with Jonathan, where Freya once again amazed both herself and me—this time learning 24 GCSE-level facts about A Christmas Carol.


Freya finished her sessions saying she felt capable of anything. After almost giving up on finding a strategy that would work for her, I can honestly say that—even for the most complex needs—Jonathan has something truly special to offer children and young people. I would highly recommend him to parents and schools.

Daniella