11 Plus Creative Writing Course with Personal Feedback
Our 11+ Writing Course teaches story writing, narrative recount and description, alongside vocabulary, literary devices and spelling, punctuation and grammar. Children receive personal feedback, can attend monthly live Writing Clinics and have one full year of access to the recorded course library from anywhere in the world.
Created and taught by Sheena Ager, writing as S. L. Ager, author of the Cadwaladr 11+ vocabulary novels.
Could Our Author-Led Approach Give Your Child the 11+ Edge?
What Your Child Receives
• One full year of access to the course and growing recorded library
• Teaching in story writing, narrative recount, description, vocabulary, literary devices and SPaG
• Personal feedback on writing submitted through the course
• Monthly live Writing Clinics, with edited recordings added to the course
• Quizzes, lesson transcripts, detailed critiques and real anonymised writing examples
• Access from anywhere in the world, at any time
One year of access costs £399. Interest-free payment options through Klarna and Clearpay are available at Thinkific checkout, subject to their usual approval and payment terms. PayPal is also available.
Individual Writing Feedback Example
Below is an anonymised example of the individual feedback children can receive through the Writing Clinics.
Year 5: The Teacher I Misjudged
Strengths
This is a smashing piece overall, and the opening is definitely the strongest part: it's great!
There’s some good showing straight away, a fabulous simile and a correctly used colon. She’s thought carefully about how to begin the story rather than simply explaining everything to us.
The spelling, punctuation and grammar are also pretty sound throughout, which makes the writing easy to follow.
There are quite a few literary devices in the piece, and they’ve generally been used well. They’re apt and relevant rather than simply being added for the sake of it. We don’t want children writing from a tick list, but it’s worth thinking about where literary devices can be used naturally and judiciously so that they actually make sense within the writing.
There are some good ideas in the story, particularly the friendship between the two children, the strict teacher and the decision to sneak away from the group. The basic story itself works well, and I think this piece would probably do well in a test.
Story and Writing
The opening is great. After that, though, there are parts of the story that could have been tightened or condensed, and other parts that could have been shown more. Paragraph three, for example, is largely telling and doesn’t really add anything important to the conflict. The story could have moved much more quickly from the opening to the children going towards the merry-go-round, which would have brought us closer to the main action sooner.
There are several places where she already has the right idea, but it could have been shown more clearly. Rather than explaining that the character wasn’t tall enough for the ride, for example, we could have seen her standing next to the height restriction while talking to her friend. That would have shown us what was wrong without needing to explain it.
The same applies later when the character says that she took a deep breath and explained what had happened. We don’t really need to be told that she explained it. We could simply hear that conversation between the character and the teacher.
Things to Work On
The biggest thing I’d work on is condensing the telling and showing us the important parts as they happen.
There are around three paragraphs covering the teacher returning, the children being taken into the lunchroom and the character sitting furthest away. I think most of that could probably have been condensed into one paragraph. We don’t really need to see the children being ushered into the lunchroom.
That would have allowed the story to move more quickly into the important part: the children sneaking away, the teacher discovering what they’ve done and the resulting conflict.
I think the story might also have worked better if more of the action had happened in one place. We could have seen the teacher being very strict, making everyone line up and checking that all the children were there. The two friends could then have sneaked into another queue, followed by the teacher’s reaction when she realised they were missing.
I’d also like to see a little more conflict. The teacher is established as very strict, but she seems to give in fairly quickly later in the story. Keeping that conflict going for a little longer could have added more drama.
There’s also one small plausibility point in the second paragraph. The teacher telling the children off for making too much noise makes sense, but the part about an incorrect hairstyle feels slightly less believable. I’m not sure it would necessarily lose marks, but it’s something I’d think about when choosing realistic details.
There are already quite a few literary devices in the piece, but one thing that could perhaps have been added is a metaphor connected to one of the rides.
Overall, she’s done very well. The main thing now is to tighten some of the telling and show us the conflict and action sooner.
This month’s Zoom clinics focused very much on how to choose the conflict from a title and where to start the story, so that teaching ties in particularly well with this piece.
A Writing Critique Excerpt
The excerpt above comes from a detailed line-by-line critique of one piece discussed during a live Writing Clinic. These critiques can run for anything from ten to twenty-five minutes.
Each month, all children are given the same writing title. One piece from the younger session and one from the older session are then selected for this depth of feedback. The younger session is broadly for children in Years Three and Four, while the older session is for children in Year Five and above.
Because everyone has written from the same title, children can sit with the critique and compare it directly with their own piece. They can see how another child approached the same task, consider the points raised and work out how those points could improve their own writing.
A full spelling, punctuation and grammar pass follows each critique. This includes awkward phrasing and is added beneath the critique video in the course.
Both critiques and SPaG passes are added to the course library and are available to every family. We encourage children and parents to watch the teaching from both age groups and, where possible, attend the live sessions.
As with any aspect of the 11+, no single piece of teaching is a silver bullet. Progress comes from returning to the material and applying it. From experience, parental involvement can make a real difference, although we recognise that joining every session is not always possible.
The full line-by-line critique and SPaG pass are given to the selected piece from each session, rather than individually to every submission.
Children who submit their own writing will also receive individual feedback in the format shown in the example above this video clip. This explains what is working well, what could be improved and what to focus on next.
Live Writing Clinic Excerpt
A Growing Creative Writing Course Library
The live teaching changes each month in response to all the children’s submitted writing. Although the focus varies, a live Writing Clinic typically begins with teaching that is relevant to everyone in the group. This is followed by the detailed critique, a question-and-answer session, and the best lines from all the writing submitted for that age group.
Your child will have access to everything already in the course library, as well as the detailed critiques and edited live teaching sessions added throughout their year of access.
Children’s faces are not recorded, and their names are edited out before each session is added to the library. This creates an expanding collection of anonymised writing examples and practical teaching that children can return to whenever they need it.
Live session times vary, but each Writing Clinic typically lasts around an hour. Occasionally, a session may run slightly longer to allow time for the critique and questions.
11+ Course Reviews
Who Is This Creative Writing Course For?
The course is primarily for children preparing for the 11+, but it is not restricted to Year 4 and Year 5. Children currently use it from around Year 3 to Year 8, depending on their stage and what they need from the teaching.
It can also be used intensively over the summer or in the weeks before an exam.
It can suit children who need a clearer process for approaching writing, rather than another checklist of features to include. Children join the live teaching session that best matches their stage.
A checklist tells a child what to add. Our author-led processes show them what to do, in what order and why, so they have an approach they can trust when writing under pressure.
The course can be used on its own or alongside existing tuition.
One Full Year of Teaching and Feedback
Your child receives one full year of access to the complete structured course, quizzes, lesson transcripts, individual writing feedback, live Writing Clinics, detailed critiques, the live course community and a growing library of teaching and real writing examples.
This is a human-authored course for human children. The live teaching is grounded in real children’s writing and responds to the work they submit.
The Writing Clinics take place monthly for a reason. This course is not a series of tests. Children are taught how to produce a first draft, edit it carefully and understand how to improve their own work before gradually working towards timed writing. The pieces submitted through the course are not timed. Children have time to write, refine and edit them at home before submitting them for feedback.
The course covers story writing, description, narrative recount, structure, sentence construction, vocabulary, literary devices, and spelling, punctuation and grammar. SPaG is taught through writing and in context, rather than as a series of isolated drills. This makes the teaching relevant to a wide range of entrance examinations, SATs and writing development right through to GCSE.
New teaching, edited Writing Clinics and detailed critiques are added monthly, giving children an expanding library of material to draw upon.
Writing and SPaG concepts take time to understand and apply confidently. Just as one hour of weekly practice would not take a child quickly to Grade Eight on an instrument, writing develops through regular practice, feedback and revisiting. The course is deliberately designed so that children can return to the teaching, apply it to new pieces and use their feedback to decide what to focus on next. The quizzes are also there to be repeated, helping children identify weaker areas, revisit the relevant lessons and check their progress.
Parental involvement can make a real difference to progress, particularly when preparing for the 11+. This can be as simple as watching a recording together, discussing the feedback or encouraging a child to apply one teaching point to the next piece. Parents are also welcome to attend the live Writing Clinics and ask questions.
One year of access to everything costs £399. Interest-free payment options through Klarna and Clearpay are available at Thinkific checkout, subject to their usual approval and payment terms. PayPal is also available.
11 Plus Creative Writing Course FAQs
Who is the course suitable for?
The course is primarily for children preparing for the 11+, but it is not restricted to a particular school year. Children currently use it from around Year 3 to Year 9, depending on their stage. Younger children generally join the Year 4 live session and older children generally join the Year 5 session.
Can this writing course be used as a crash course?
Yes. Children can work through the core teaching intensively over the summer or in the weeks before an exam.
You will still receive one full year of access to everything, so your child can continue practising, join the Writing Clinics, receive feedback and revisit the teaching afterwards.
How long will we have access?
You will have access to everything, including the new materials, for one full year from enrolment. The course is available online at any time worldwide, plus the live sessions, so your child can revisit the teaching throughout that year.
Will my child receive individual feedback?
Yes. Children can submit a piece through the Writing Clinics and receive individual feedback explaining what is working well, what could be improved and what to focus on next.
How do the Writing Clinics work?
Writing Clinics are live Zoom sessions for children and parents, grouped broadly by stage.
Before each Clinic, I read every submission and select one piece for each live session for an in-depth critique. The teaching topic may change depending on the writing submitted that month and what would be most useful for the group.
I also share the best line from every child’s submission. All writing is anonymised, so children can learn from one another without anyone being identified.
Why are the Writing Clinics held once a month?
Separate live Writing Clinics are held each month for the two age groups. The younger clinic is broadly for children in Years Three and Four, while the older clinic is for children in Year Five and above.
The course teaches children how to develop a piece of writing, rather than simply testing what they can produce under timed conditions. They learn how to create a first draft, edit it carefully and make purposeful improvements. Once they are happy with their work, they write out the finished piece by hand and submit it for feedback.
This process takes time. The monthly Writing Clinics give children the opportunity to learn from the course, draft, edit and refine their work before submitting it. As their skills and confidence develop, they can begin applying the same process to timed writing.
What happens if we miss a live session?
Every live critique and edited live teaching session is added to the course, so your child can watch it later.
Although the live sessions are grouped broadly by stage, children can access the teaching and critiques from both groups. I recommend watching all of them. A child who usually joins the Year 4 session can still learn a great deal from the Year 5 teaching, and the same applies in reverse.
Nothing useful is limited to the children who attended the session live.
How does the live course community work?
Think of the live course community as a private Facebook group for enrolled families, held within the course.
Parents can ask questions, discuss the teaching and receive support between live sessions. They do not need to identify themselves or their child publicly. They can choose a different username and simply refer to “my child” when posting.
This means families can take part, ask questions and share relevant writing concerns while keeping personal details private.
Do you offer one-to-one creative writing tuition?
Yes. One-to-one tuition is available as a separate offering, but only after a child has worked through the course. This means we can use the same writing processes and build on the teaching they already understand.
One-to-one tuition is not included in the course price.
Can I pay in instalments?
Interest free payment options are available through Klarna and Clearpay at Thinkific checkout, subject to their usual approval and payment terms. PayPal is also available.
The payment options available to you will be shown when you reach checkout.
Can my child use the course from outside the UK?
Yes. The course can be followed from anywhere in the world, and children can work through the recorded lessons at any time. Writing Clinic times vary, but edited recordings are added to the course library, so your child won’t lose the teaching if they can’t attend live. Children outside the UK can submit their writing for personal feedback in exactly the same way.
Ready to Begin?
The 11+ is a competition, and one mark can make the difference.
We want to teach children how to write, not simply overstuff a piece with adjectives and every literary device from a list. Literary devices should earn their place, and vocabulary should work in context. We teach children when, why and how to use both effectively, while developing spelling, punctuation and grammar through their writing.
Give your child a clear author-led writing process they can practise, apply and revisit, with live teaching and individual feedback along the way.
Still Have a Question?
If you have any questions about the course before enrolling, send us a WhatsApp message.