Do You Need a Grade 4-9 in AQA GCSE English?

12 Week AQA GCSE English Fast-Track Programme

The outcome of the programme is simple: get to grips with the techniques and approach needed to tackle the AQA English GCSE (with units on tackling the AQA Literature course too.)

This programme is entitled The AQA GCSE English Fast-track Programme, because that’s my focus here: an intensive & forensic course which aims to help students master the skills they need within 3 months.

We’re going to solve the 3 big problems that prevent some students from making progress in conventional tutoring sessions.

Problem 1:

The traditional 1:1 tuition model isn’t effective for all students

Whilst some students thrive in a 1:1 scenario, it doesn’t work for all. More than two decades of experience in tutoring English has taught me that many students won’t speak readily in a 1:1 hour-long lesson, so the tutor can sometimes end up doing most of the talking and modelling, whilst the student is passive. This means that the information is quickly forgotten within a day or two and then it’s another 5-6 days before the student meets with their tutor again. Progress can be very slow for some students.

Answer: an online programme where the modelling, exam skills, exemplars and forensic ‘how to’ bits are done in high-quality videos.

The student will start by logging into a member’s only portal where they will be asked to consider their current level of ability, performance and target. This self-assessment is a key aspect of the course, gradually moving students from a system of over-reliance on their teacher/tutor to a place of greater self-regulation, independence and confidence.

Next, they’ll move into a systematic and highly accessible programme of forensic videos, taking them step by step through the exam papers, with tasks along the way to practise key skills. There are ten modules. The videos can be paused so students can take notes or complete tasks in their work book, and watched or rewound as many times as needed. This is based on a technique called ‘Mastery Learning,’ whereby subject matter is broken into bite-sized pieces and with clear objectives, which students work through at their own pace until they have mastered it.

Research from ‘The Education Endowment Foundation’ reveals that some of the most effective strategies for learning include: metacognition, (being able to think about their own learning and giving them strategies for learning,) mastery learning, oracy, collaborative learning, dialogue, peer to peer support and talking in groups. Much of this can’t be achieved in a 1:1 scenario. In my experience as a teacher of thirty years and a tutor for 25 years, the best education happens within a social constructivist model because not only do students achieve and progress far more, they also develop their personhood. Therefore, when we get together for a small group Zoom meeting, the focus can be on talking through progress, asking questions, sharing challenges and doing a deep dive into one of the questions each week. These lessons are all about bespoke content, live support and community.

The result: far from ‘getting lost in a crowd,’ students will take far more ownership of their learning, based on what they’ve been studying during the week.

Problem 2:

Students only see their tutor once a week for an hour

Most parents I chat with firmly believe that paying for their child to see a tutor for an hour once a week (sometimes for years on end) is the ‘gold standard.’ For some, it is and works extremely well, but for many children who have had 25 lessons at school between tutoring sessions, they will remember little or nothing of what they did 7 days before with their tutor.

Answer: an on-call tutor who is there to support a student as and when they need it. (Gold Programme only.)

For students on the Gold Programme I offer an on-call service Tuesday-Thursday from 9am-5.30pm.

If students encounter any challenges or have a query they need an answer to, they can email me or send me a voice note at any time and I will respond in detail via Vimeo, email or a quick Zoom meeting. (Tuesday-Thursday between 9 and 5.30pm.)

This means that students on the Gold Programme have a far more bespoke 1:1 experience than a traditional tutoring model offers, as the discussions will be based on very specific issues that need to be sorted out before the next lesson. Very few tutors will offer this service.

The result: the bespoke 1:1 service that parents always hope for.

Problem 3:

Limited time for high-quality feedback in the majority of tutoring scenarios and very few resources

Students make progress when they are DOING, not listening. The more students practise immediately after receiving swift and high-quality feedback, the more they will improve.

Answer: a complete GCSE course of downloadable materials which can be kept forever, (Gold and Silver Programmes,) and a marking service (Gold Programme only)

For Silver and Gold Programme students I have created a complete pack of AQA GCSE English materials to download and keep. After each video students can click on the ‘Lesson Materials’ tab and download all the PDFs to keep forever. This will include TASKS, presentations, exemplars, models, tips and hacks.

For students on the Gold Programme, I also offer a marking service, which means they can send me anything from the programme that they would like me to mark. This work can be sent at any time and I will respond between 9am-5.30pm Tuesday-Thursday.  (Please note, this will not include doing or marking their homework from school!) Because I only teach a small number of students, I can completely devote myself to offering a swift and detailed response. Research from the ‘EEF’ pinpoints that rapid and frequent feedback ‘redirects and refocuses the learner’s actions to achieve a goal by aligning effort and activity with an outcome.’ (Education Endowment Foundation.)

In addition to this, even if students on the Gold Programme do not have any work for me to assess, they will still be encouraged to stay in touch (once a week) and let me know how they are getting on. This could be via a voice note on Loom or a Vimeo video or an email. I will respond Tuesday-Thursday between 9am and 5.30pm..

The result: a confident and independent student who is mastering key skills for AQA GCSE English (and English Literature.)

The end result is that your child has been given the opportunity to become a more self-reliant and effective learner over the course of three months, and you have saved yourself thousands of pounds by not paying for tutoring over 1-2 years or more. The aspiration behind this programme is ‘once mastered, never forgotten.’

Purchasing options

The online course can be purchased on its own or with Zoom lessons, 1-2-1 support and instant feedback:

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