Blogs, Events & News

Ripe Thinking

Ripe Thinking is Apricot Learning's space for stories that matter — from the latest news and events to reflections on education, wellbeing, and the power of reconnecting young people with learning.

Here you'll find updates from our team, thought pieces from our teachers, and inspiring moments from the students, schools, and local authorities we work with every day. It's where we share what's working, what's changing, and what we've learned along the way.

Education thrives when it's given the space to grow, evolve, and ripen with care.

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February 19, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions About Apricot Learning

Whether you are a school leader exploring alternative provision, a commissioner seeking accountability and quality, or a parent looking for stability and hope, you deserve clear answers and honest guidance.

Blog
June 25, 2025

Student Spotlight

Asher, in KS4, has written a beautiful, evocative short story full of imagery and clever sentence structures. We felt it was so good we had to share it!

News
June 25, 2025

Madness Took Me – A Novel by David Bignell

Fans of Monty Python and Stanley Kubrick will not be disappointed when they find the comedic and surreal novel ‘Madness Took me’ on their bookshelves.

Blog
May 1, 2025

A Boy Interrupted

A case study short story

Blog
February 7, 2025

Apricot Rap!

I love my staff! Here's the latest impromptu creation – a rap by one of our teachers, David Bignell. Enjoy!

Blog
August 24, 2023

Support and Guidance for Parents and Students

We've put together some resources that we think will be really helpful for you.

Blog
August 24, 2023

Why Apricot Lessons Work

Our teachers continually listen to their students and are constantly adjusting their lesson content and pacing to meet student needs.

Blog
August 24, 2023

Reporting Par Excellence

Our reporting is a serious diagnostic tool that delivers clear attendance and progress updates in each subject.

Blog
August 24, 2023

Quality Assured

Our quality management systems have been recognised in clients’ Ofsted reports for their excellence and innovation.

News
August 23, 2023

Learning from QA Audits

My professor father taught me early on that learning is a violent act.

Blog
August 23, 2023

Why Students Love Apricot’s New Learning Platform

Transitioning from one technology to another is never easy. The question is always, “Is it worth it?”

News
April 24, 2023

Why Apricot is Sincerely Looking Forward to the New School Year

The same as every school across the country, we’re looking forward to welcoming and working with our students for this new academic year.

Blog
April 24, 2023

Propositional Language – Unfreezing the Mind Ain’t Easy

Staring at a blank page can be unnerving. For anxious exam students, the prospect of writing an essay – saying anything – may seem insurmountable.

Blog
April 24, 2023

Is Co-Construction a Misnomer?

We all know who we are as teachers, but names are important and naming conventions are telling.

Blog
April 24, 2023

The Games We Play

Fun and games can go a long way to help re-engage students‍.

Blog
April 24, 2023

Mind The Gap!

When helping a student build confidence and mental resilience, it can seem a little counter-intuitive to focus on past failures.

Blog
April 24, 2023

Choosing Your Rut Carefully

Choose your rut carefully because you and your students will be in it for a very long time – perhaps a lifetime.

Blog
April 24, 2023

Mitigating Traumatic Stressors in Online AEP

Communication is vital in avoiding emotional triggers‍.

Blog
April 24, 2023

Safeguarding in Online Learning

A guide to choosing a safe online provider for teachers and education/safeguarding professionals‍.

Blog
April 24, 2023

How to Give Vulnerable Students the Best Shot At Success

The children we teach at Apricot Online all have additional challenges to overcome.

Blog
April 24, 2023

How Anonymity Can Be a Blessing for Vulnerable Students

Everyone wants to be famous it seems.

Blog
April 24, 2023

Online School Offers Help so “Teachers Can Keep On Teaching”

With hundreds of thousands of secondary school students stuck at home from today (Friday), one online school is offering a solution to the potential education gap that may stretch until September.

News
April 24, 2023

Forget What You Think You Know About Online Learning

With all the attention now being paid to digital solutions for schools and students working from home, it’s time to understand more about the options on the web being offered to you as quick fixes.

Blog
April 24, 2023

Ofsted to Inspect Online Education

No matter how prepared you think you are for the new DfE inspection framework for online education providers, think again!

News
April 24, 2023

Apricot's Secret Sauce

We sat down with our teachers to talk about what makes Apricot special. What is the Apricot special ingredient?

Blog
April 24, 2023

Social Investment Providing Accessible Education for All

With education being disrupted across the country, Apricot Learning Online supports students with special education needs to receive high quality education experiences in ways that are tailored uniquely to them online.

News
April 24, 2023

It’s Results Season, and Not Everyone Will Be Happy

Disappointing exam results can be devastating, but it shouldn’t be the end of the world.

Blog
April 24, 2023

School isn’t for Everyone, But Education Can Be

What happens when you don’t fit in, do not excel in your subjects and have no idea what you want to do with your life?

Blog

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