Junior Academic Literacy Course 2026-2027
How effectively is your child developing the thinking and communication skills that will shape their future academic success?
Designed for students aged 11–13, this flagship programme develops confident thinkers, articulate speakers, and capable writers through an integrated approach to critical thinking, reading, writing, and debating. Across 18 immersive sessions, students strengthen their ability to analyse ideas, construct arguments, and communicate with clarity—building the intellectual skills that underpin success across every subject.
The course provides an excellent foundation for secondary education, supporting students as they progress towards GCSE, IB, and A-level study. By developing analytical thinking, academic writing, and confident expression from an early age, students build the academic literacy and intellectual confidence required for future university study and beyond.
An Exceptional Foundation for
Lasting Academic Success
Structured Academic Development
A future-ready framework combining expert teaching, targeted resources, and personalised feedback to develop confident and precise communication.
Oxbridge-Led Critical Thinking & Communication
Students strengthen critical reading, writing, and debating skills through expert guidance designed to support GCSE, A-level, and university preparation.
Small Group Learning & Personalised Feedback
Focused sessions and detailed feedback help students refine their writing technique, strengthen reasoning, and develop an individual academic voice.
Practice-Based Intellectual Growth
Through discussion, debate, and continuous practice, students build the confidence and analytical skills needed for future academic challenges.
Building Versatility in Writing
Critical Reading, Thinking & Interpretation
Examine literature, media, speeches, and other texts to interpret meaning, identify bias, and assess argumentation, while developing the capacity to integrate these analytical skills into your own written work.
Research & Media Literacy
Develop the ability to evaluate and synthesise credible sources, critically analyse media messaging, and support arguments across disciplines while building confident research habits.
Academic Writing & Composition
Develop clear and well-structured academic essays by crafting strong thesis statements, organising persuasive arguments, integrating evidence, and applying critical analysis.
Language Precision & Style
Expand vocabulary, sharpen grammar, and polish writing style to improve clarity and impact across all forms of academic writing, while developing precision in expressing complex ideas.
Creative Thinking & Expression
Develop original ideas and experiment with style by applying imaginative and innovative approaches, enhancing engagement in creative and academic writing, and learning to express complex concepts effectively.
Argumentation & Debate
Build the ability to argue logically, challenge counterpositions effectively, and convey ideas with clarity and persuasion across written and spoken forms.
By the end of the programme, students will have:
Created original creative writing
Produced a 2,000-word short story demonstrating imagination, narrative control, character development, and expressive writing.
Completed academic research writing
Developed a structured research essay showcasing critical reading, argumentation, and analytical thinking.
Strengthened literature and media analysis
Learned to interpret themes, techniques, and contexts with greater depth and precision.
Built confident speaking and debating skills
Practised presenting ideas, responding to challenges, and communicating persuasively.
Expanded vocabulary and writing fluency
Developed greater versatility across creative, analytical, and persuasive writing styles.
Prepared for advanced academic opportunities
Built transferable skills in reasoning, research, and communication relevant to competitions, university applications, and future study.
Created original creative writing
Explored how AI tools can support idea development and editing while maintaining academic integrity.
Junior Academic Literacy Course 2026-2027
Designed for ages 11-13 with course running between September 2026 & March 2027
Double-Module Course Commencing in September 2026
Module 1: Foundations of Creative & Critical Writing (9 classes/1.5 hours each)
Weekly between September 2026 and December 2026
Module 2: Academic Writing, Research & Persuasive Communication (9 classes/1.5 h each)
Weekly between January 2027 and March 2027
Junior Academic Literacy Course 2026-2027
Build the intellectual foundations for academic success
Develop the critical thinking, analytical reading, and persuasive communication skills valued by leading universities through a structured 18-lesson academic writing journey.
Programme Investment
Module 1: Foundations of Creative & Critical Writing
9 lessons × 1.5 hours | £1,300 per student per module
Module 2: Academic Writing, Research & Persuasive Communication
9 lessons × 1.5 hours | £1,300 per student per module
Students completing both modules may receive a £100 achievement rebate upon submission of an approved international essay competition entry.
Recording of Course Demo by Dr Toby Lincoln
Our Oxbridge Academic
Literacy Course Instructor
Dr Toby Lincoln DPhil (Oxon) FRHistS
Chief Humanities Consultant (Oxford)
Dr Lincoln is a distinguished historian and educator with over 15 years of international teaching experience across the UK, USA, and China. He holds a DPhil in Oriental Studies from the University of Oxford and has held academic appointments at Yale University and the University of Leicester, where he rose to the position of Associate Professor in Chinese Urban History.
A dedicated and inspiring teacher, Dr Lincoln has delivered courses in modern Chinese history, historical methods, and urban studies to undergraduate and postgraduate students around the world. He has also supervised PhD candidates and led curriculum innovation and teacher training programmes for over 700 doctoral students. His past visiting professorships at Hangzhou Normal University and Shanghai Normal University further reflect his global academic reach.
Today, Dr Lincoln brings his deep subject knowledge and academic insight to his work as an educational consultant. He offers one-to-one support in A-level and International Baccalaureate History and Politics, and provides expert guidance on all aspects of university admissions—from crafting standout personal statements and research proposals to interview preparation and mentoring. He also teaches AI literacy to help students and professionals navigate the future of knowledge and technology with confidence.
Dr Lincoln is an active researcher and the author of An Urban History of China (Cambridge, 2021) and “Out of the Rubble of the Second World War: Postwar Reconstruction in China”, recently published in Past and Present, the UK’s leading historical journal. He is currently working on a major project examining China's recovery after WWII. He also writes science fiction short stories.
Dr Lincoln has been recognised with numerous scholarships and awards, including an Arts and Humanities Research Council Early Career Fellowship and the prestigious Yungtai Hsu Scholarship at Oxford. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a member of The Tutors’ Association.