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September GCSE English programmes are now open
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Hi Reader After a lot of planning behind the scenes this summer, I'm delighted to say that my September GCSE English programmes are now open for enrolment. I've spent the last few weeks reviewing this year's teaching, reflecting on my examiner marking and redesigning my programmes to give students even more targeted support throughout Year 10 and Year 11. Year 10 Foundations
Year 10 is about much more than getting ahead. It's about quietly building the reading, writing and analytical skills that make Year 11 far less daunting. My Foundations programme focuses on the "under the bonnet" skills that strong GCSE English students develop over time: reading perceptively, thinking independently and writing with confidence. Year 11 ProgrammesThis year, students can choose between two pathways: Secure Pass
Designed for students who need confidence, structure and clear guidance to achieve a secure GCSE pass. Higher Grades
Designed for students aiming for the highest grades through deeper analysis, more sophisticated writing and the development of independent interpretation. Alongside these, I'll also be offering optional Literature Blocks throughout the year for students who would benefit from additional support with their set texts, together with optional holiday clinics for anyone who would like some extra help before exams. As always, every programme includes: ✔ Maximum of six students per group ✔ Initial consultation and pre-assessment ✔ Carefully matched groups by exam board and level ✔ Individual targets and written feedback ✔ Homework with model answers ✔ Lesson recordings if students miss a session ✔ Teaching informed by over twenty years' experience, AQA examining and educational publishing I've put a huge amount of thought into these programmes and I'm genuinely excited about them. If you're considering GCSE English tuition for September, I'd be delighted to talk through which programme would best suit your child. Simply reply to this email or get in touch via my website to arrange an initial consultation. Very best wishes, Verity Bell GCSE English Language & Literature | AQA Examiner | Small Online Groups P.S. Next Friday I'll be starting a brand new series called What I Learned This Summer as a GCSE Examiner. Rather than revision tips, these are reflections on the moments, misconceptions and wonderful pieces of thinking that stayed with me after reading hundreds of GCSE English essays this summer. I can't wait to share them with you. |
Verity Bell English Educator
Sign up to my newsletter to receive weekly tips and useful resources to help you to understand what your child needs to do to improve their English grades.
Hi Reader If you’re anything like me, summer can feel like a constant balancing act. You want your child to rest, switch off and enjoy the holidays, and rightly so. But there’s often a small nagging worry in the background… What happens if they stop reading and writing altogether for six weeks? As a GCSE English tutor and examiner, I see the effects of this every September. Students return to school feeling rusty. Vocabulary recall is slower. Writing stamina has dipped. Analytical thinking...
Hi Reader I’m deep in exam marking at the moment. That means hours spent reading real student responses and seeing, line by line, what earns marks and what holds students back. I can’t share specific papers or mark schemes, of course, but I can share some recurring patterns I’m noticing. Here are four lessons from the examiner desk this week. Strong ideas are not enough if they are not clearly expressed This is one of the biggest misconceptions I see. Many students genuinely do understand the...
Hi Reader Now that exam season is drawing to a close, many families find themselves in a strange in-between period. The papers are done. The revision notes are put away. And then comes the waiting. Waiting for results can feel surprisingly unsettling. Without the immediate pressure of exams, there is often finally space to reflect. What went well this year? What felt harder than expected? Where did your child thrive, and where did they struggle? For many parents, this is the point when they...