5th July 2025 - Easy ways to improve your child's grade
Writing standards are slipping
Over the past few months, I’ve had the same conversation with more colleagues than I can count. Whether it’s in the staffroom, online forums, or whispered between paper-marking sessions, the concern is unanimous: standards in student writing are slipping.
My experience as a GCSE Examiner
As an English tutor and examiner, I see this up close. The frustration is real. The missing piece — time and time again — is planning. Students often dive headfirst into their writing with no clear sense of purpose. There's little awareness of the audience, no attention to the genre, and rarely any structure guiding their work. And yet, ironically, they’re under more time pressure than ever. With just 45 minutes for a writing task, they believe they don’t have time to plan. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Spending five focused minutes on planning is not a waste — it’s an investment. It gives direction. It shapes vocabulary choices. It means students are writing with intent, not just filling lines with disjointed thoughts and crossing their fingers for a good mark.
Creative or Transactional?
Another issue that’s emerging more and more is confusion between creative and transactional writing. Students often don’t know which techniques to use or even what the differences are. A persuasive speech is not the same as a descriptive narrative. The tone, the structure, the devices — they all need to change depending on the task. This became so clear to me midway through my career, when I had the opportunity to work closely with a primary specialist. It was a lightbulb moment. She showed me how younger students broke down planning: thinking about vocabulary, sentence types, tone — before they even started writing. It was so deliberate, and it worked. That approach transformed the way I taught writing, and it’s something I still use with students today. The good news? These skills can be taught. And once students understand the differences and have a structure to follow, their confidence skyrockets. Writing becomes purposeful.
Discounted Summer Masterclass
And that’s exactly why I’m running a special summer masterclass on Monday 5th August at 11:30am.For just £10, I’ll be showing students:
- The real difference between imaginative and transactional writing
- Which techniques to use — and when
- How to plan effectively in five minutes or less
- What examiners are really looking for
It’s perfect for students in Year 9 and above, or even younger pupils preparing for 11+ or entrance exams who want an extra challenge. And if you’re away on holiday — don’t worry. Everyone who registers will receive the recording and resources to keep.
If you want to chat about how I can support your child - drop me a message.