KS3 & Checkpoint English
About the course
Strong readers and confident writers are made before IGCSE begins. The KS3 & Checkpoint English group is for students in Years 7–9, following the UK Key Stage 3 curriculum or Cambridge Lower Secondary English.
Each week there is one live 75-minute lesson on Google Meet covering reading and writing both fiction and non-fiction, the same skills tested in the Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint at the end of Stage 9. Every fortnight students complete a piece of writing that I mark with personal feedback.
Groups are arranged by year where numbers allow. For students in Stage 9, lessons build towards the Checkpoint tests. For younger students, they build the habits that make IGCSE easier later.
What’s included
- One live 75-minute lesson every week
- A marked piece of writing every fortnight, with written feedback
- The lesson slides and practice tasks after every lesson
- A small group of no more than 6 students, arranged by year where numbers allow
- A clear route into the Year 10 Weekly Group when students start IGCSE
The first block: The Checkpoint Toolkit (6 lessons)
| Lesson | What we cover |
|---|---|
| 1 | Where am I now? A short starting-point check, so I can see exactly what each student needs Both papers |
| 2 | How Checkpoint works: the two papers, every question type and where the marks are Both papers |
| 3 | Punctuation for effect: how writers use punctuation to control pace and meaning Both papers |
| 4 | Sentence structure for effect: short, long and varied sentences for impact Both papers |
| 5 | Starter paper: a short, timed Checkpoint-style paper Both papers |
| 6 | Debrief: we go through the paper together and fix what lost marks Both papers |
After the Toolkit, three more blocks of 6 lessons work through every question type on both Checkpoint papers:
- Non-fiction reading (Paper 1 Section A): retrieval and word meaning, language, structure, the 40-word summary and viewpoint, ending with a timed paper
- Non-fiction writing (Paper 1 Section B): recount, article, letter, speech, report and review, ending with a timed write
- Fiction (Paper 2): character, figurative language, narrative structure, openings, dialogue and endings, ending with a timed story
Who it’s for
Students in Years 7–9 (Cambridge Lower Secondary Stages 7–9) at UK or international schools, or studying at home. Lessons support students who find English harder and stretch confident readers and writers.
Questions
When are the lessons?
The lesson time will be confirmed in January 2027. When you register, tell me your child’s year group, your time zone and the times that suit you.
My child isn’t taking Checkpoint. Is this still suitable?
Yes. The lessons teach the core reading and writing skills for Key Stage 3, whichever curriculum your child’s school follows.
Do we have to commit for the whole year?
No. You book one block of 6 lessons at a time, and can choose whether to continue before each new block.
What if not enough students sign up?
A group runs with at least 3 students. If it doesn’t fill, you’ll be offered another option or a full refund.
What if the group is full?
If a group fills up, I’ll open another group at a different time where there is enough interest, or offer you the first place that becomes available.
How do I pay?
Each block is paid in full before it starts. There is nothing to pay to register your interest.
Want a place?
Register your interest now. You’ll hear first when bookings open in January, before places are offered to anyone else.