What do top-performing students have in common?

A teacher reveals the routines, mindsets, and support systems that drive consistent academic success.

Why do some students seem to effortlessly excel while others struggle despite having access to all the same resources? After years of teaching and tutoring, I can say that the top-performing students are not just “naturally smarter”. While natural ability does play a part in academic achievement, the key to sustained success lies in learners’ attitudes, habits, and environments. 

I have worked with countless children in primary and secondary schools around the UK, and have noticed similar attributes in my highest-achieving students. Thankfully, with the right support, any student can put these behaviours into action and develop skills essential for future endeavours. 

What are these behaviours and attitudes that top-performing students demonstrate, and how can they help to achieve your academic goals?

1. They stick to a routine (even when they don’t want to)

   
   

Consistency is key to achieving academic success, and my best students understand that. By treating homework or study time as an integral part of the day, just like mealtimes or bedtime, it becomes a non-negotiable daily routine that they naturally begin to follow.

This consistency makes all the difference, and students are not purely relying on bursts of motivation to study – it is just a fact of everyday life for them. 

2. They are proactive learners, not reactive ones

   
   

One of my tutoring students would bring pages of questions and scribbled notes to our sessions. These were points that had arisen during school or study sessions that she had found confusing and needed clarification on. Her proactive approach meant that we could iron out misunderstandings early on, instead of waiting until she was overwhelmed and busy with other things. 

At Birchwood Tutors, we encourage our students to regularly reflect on their learning and seek clarification as soon as possible. This often achieves a deeper level of understanding, allowing them to apply their learning more confidently in the future.

3. They see mistakes as lessons to learn from

   
   

All of my top-performing students have had this in common: they rarely got full marks in classwork throughout the term! However, instead of shutting down and being hard on themselves, they would lock in and work out where they had gone wrong. 

These students learned more from identifying their mistakes and recognising where they had gone wrong than they would have if they had received full marks. At home, this looks like encouraging your child to see the lessons in their mistakes, rather than being disappointed by them. 

4. They have a village behind them

   
   

None of my highest-achieving students got to the top alone. Behind every one of these children was support, be it in various forms. Some were supported at home with a quiet study space or rewards for achieving goals, for others it was a tutoring programme to reinforce classroom learning. 

However, the most important support for these students came in the form of emotional support. Parents, carers, teachers, tutors and friends who celebrate effort over achievement and who show genuine interest and involvement in what your child is learning trumps all. Of course, money can buy excellent resources, but what children remember the most are the people who show up for them!

At Birchwood Tutors, our world-class tuition (from anywhere) focuses on more than just raising grades. We pride ourselves on being a part of our students’ village – supporting them to develop the habits and mindsets we see in top-performing students. 

5. They know the importance of finding a balance 

   
   

The stereotype of top students pulling all-nighters is simply not accurate in my experience. My top-performing students have all been excellent at practising ‘self-care’ and enforcing boundaries on their time -ensuring they get enough sleep, eat well, take breaks, and spend time doing things they love.

It’s often up to us as adults to model this for our children and show them how to set boundaries to protect their well-being, including to avoid academic burnout. 

6. They eventually find their own drive

At first, the routines and boundaries around school and studying come from (and are usually enforced by) parents and carers, but students who can internalise these are often destined for success. As they begin to achieve their goals, their motivation stops being “because my parents said so” and becomes “because I want to”.

My final thoughts

Top performing students are not born with secret advantages that make them destined for success. They succeed because they work hard to build habits, attitudes, and the skills essential for future endeavours. You can create an environment where your child develops these qualities through structure, encouragement, and, when needed, the right academic support.