ASPIRE Critical Thinking, Reading, Writing & Debating Course 2025-2026
How effectively is your child cultivating the thinking and communication skills that will distinguish them in competitive academic environments beyond exams?
This flagship course is designed to develop students aged 13 to 15 into confident thinkers, articulate speakers and powerful writers, qualities highly sought by leading universities and future employers. Critical thinking, reading, writing and debating are intrinsically linked skills, and our integrated programme ensures students build all-round skills essential for success across all subjects and stages of education. Over 20 immersive sessions, students enhance their ability to analyse complex texts, craft compelling arguments and communicate with clarity and conviction. Whether creating original fiction or mastering formal debate, they engage deeply with language, logic and expression, skills that underpin academic excellence, personal growth and lifelong achievement.
The course also supports students whose first language is not English, providing a strong foundation to meet the demands of GCSE-level English and English Literature. Through a structured focus on critical reading, analytical thinking, and effective communication, students learn to write with purpose and precision and to present ideas clearly and persuasively, both in written and spoken form. These transferable skills not only prepare them for GCSE success but also lay the groundwork for future study at IB, A-level, and university level, empowering them to thrive in an increasingly competitive academic and professional landscape.
Deadline for registration: 25 August 2025 (Monday)
An Exceptional Foundation for
Lasting Academic Success
Comprehensive and Future-Ready Learning Framework
Students will master a range of writing styles through a structured approach that combines expert instruction, tailored resources, and detailed feedback, building clarity, precision, and lasting confidence in written expression.
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Expert Instruction in Critical Thinking, Reading, Writing and Debating
Students will learn from our Oxbridge educator with strong academic experience who prepares students for GCSEs, A-levels and beyond school, equipping them for university success and helping them navigate common writing challenges.
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Focused Small Group Learning with Personalised Feedback
Each session develops sophisticated writing skills through personalised feedback and individual homework marking, empowering students to refine their technique and cultivate a distinctive academic voice.
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Extensive Practice to Drive Transformative Academic Growth
Structured opportunities to engage in academic discourse with peers allow students to refine their academic skills and cultivate lasting capabilities that will support them through university applications and well into higher education.
From Argument to Expression
Building Versatility in Writing
This 20-lesson course (30 teaching hours) helps students aged 13 to 15 to build versatility in writing by developing a confident, adaptable voice. Through exposure to a wide range of styles and purposes, from analytical essays to reflective and persuasive pieces, students expand their writing toolkit, learning to tailor their expression to different audiences and contexts. The course strengthens the critical thinking and communication skills that underpin success in school, university applications, and beyond.
By the end of this course, students will have:
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​Written a compelling 2,000-word short story
that demonstrates creativity, originality, and narrative control, showcasing their ability to craft engaging fiction with vivid characterisation and emotional depth.
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​Completed a research-based academic essay
that reflects strong argumentation, critical reading, and structured thinking, one that is suitable for school competitions or as a foundation for GCSE, A-level and university-level writing.
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​Prepared for international writing competition
with the opportunity to develop a 1,500 word academic essay for our essay competition. This provides a foundation for writing essays for globally recognised contests such as the John Locke Essay Competition. Further personalised support is available for those wishing to enter.
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Mastered critical analysis of literature and media
by learning to interpret themes, techniques, and contexts with precision, mirroring the approach expected of students at top universities.
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Developed confident public speaking and debating skills
through structured practice and live performance, enabling students to present arguments clearly, respond to challenges effectively, and engage audience.​
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Built a richer vocabulary and greater writing fluency
From creative and academic to persuasive writing, enhancing both written communication and overall academic expression.
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Strengthened your readiness for top university applications
by developing a versatile skill set in writing, research, and communication that supports academic success and future ambitions.
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Developed a strategic and responsible approach to using AI in writing
through short, targeted segments within lessons that introduce the ethical and effective use of AI tools to support idea development and editing while reinforcing academic integrity.
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What Students Will Master
Storytelling
& Fiction
Refine the art of creative writing by crafting vivid scenes, developing intricate plots, creating compelling characters, and employing literary techniques to engage readers.
Journalism
& Media
Develop skills to craft opinion pieces and current affairs journalism, critically analyse media messaging, evaluate sources thoughtfully, and communicate with authority and accuracy.
Academic Essay
Planning & Writing
​Develop powerful thesis statements, use evidence effectively, organise persuasive arguments, integrate critical analysis, and present ideas with intellectual depth and precision.
Precision in
Writing
Expand your word bank, sharpen your grammar, polish your writing style for impact, strengthen advanced reasoning, and enhance coherence.
Critical Thinking, Critical Reading & Analysis
Analyse fiction, poetry, speeches and media to uncover meaning, bias and intent. Develop the skills to spot assumptions, think beyond opinion, weigh perspectives and justify conclusions.
Debating
Mastery
​Gain confidence in formal debate, public speaking, and persuasive rebuttal. Develop the ability to construct logical arguments, critique counterpositions effectively, and speak with clarity.
ASPIRE Critical Thinking, Reading, Writing
& Debating Course
September 2025 - March 2026
20 Sessions
1.5 h per session​
Online & Live
in multiple time zones
Small Class Size​
4 to 8 students​
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Designed for​
13-15 years old​
​​​Demo Video by Dr Toby Lincoln​​​​
Term 1:
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September 2025 to November 2025 ​
10 weekly lessons (15 hours) with a 2-week half term break
Starting in the week commencing 8 September 2025
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Term 2:
​​​​​​​​January 2026 to March 2026​
​10 weekly lessons (15 hours) with a 2-week half term break
Starting in the week commencing 5 January 2026
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Lesson Times for Term 1 and Term 2 (2025-2026)*
Cohort 1:
Term 1 (10 lessons) - 8 September to 24 November 2025, every Monday except 20 & 27 October 2025​
Term 2 (10 lessons) - 5 January to 23 March 2026, every Monday except 9 & 16 February 2026
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18:00 to 19:30 China Standard Time for China, Hong Kong and Macau
Cohort 2:
Term 1 (10 lessons) - 10 September to 26 November 2025, every Wednesday except 22 & 29 October 2025​
Term 2 (10 lessons) - 7 January to 25 March 2026, every Wednesday except 11 & 18 February 2026
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19:00 to 20:30 United Kingdom local time
* The lesson times stated above represent the standard schedule for this course. Alternative time slots may only be considered where there is sufficient interest from a group of at least four students, and are subject to the Company’s discretion and availability.
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​​Course Pricings (for commencement in September 2025):
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Term 1 only standard fee:
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Term 1 pair enrolment discount:
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Term 2 standard fee (if enrol after 20 October 2025):
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Term 2 continuation discount (if enrol before 20 October 2025): ​
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​​​​£880 per student
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£820 per student
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£880 per student *
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£800 per student **
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* Only students who enrolled in Term 1 are eligible to enrol in Term 2.
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** The continuation discount for Term 2 is available to all students who enrol in Term 2 following enrolment in Term 1, with no requirement to enrol as part of a pair.​​​​​
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For inquiries or registration, please contact us at writing@oxbridgegateway.com
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To secure a place, a £50 non-refundable deposit is required by 25 August 2025. The balance payment will be required by 5 September 2025 to confirm your enrolment in Term 1.
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Places are limited - register now to secure your place!
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Deadline for registration and deposit payment for Term 1: 25 August 2025
Bring a friend,
each save £60!
Our Oxbridge Writing & Debating Course Instructor
Dr Toby Lincoln DPhil (Oxon) FRHistS
Chief Humanities Consultant (Oxford) &
Writing Course Instructor
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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.
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