Step Write Up at Golden Brain Academy
Turn Imagination Into Exceptional Writing
Every child has ideas.
The challenge is knowing how to turn those ideas into engaging, well-structured, confident writing.
Step Write Up helps children in Years 3-7 develop the confidence, creativity and writing skills they need to succeed in school, enjoy writing and flourish as communicators.
For children preparing for grammar school and independent school entrance examinations, these same skills provide a powerful advantage in 11+ English and Creative Writing assessments.
Created and taught by experienced teacher, former Head of English and Golden Brain Academy founder Ali Goulden, Step Write Up combines over 26 years of teaching expertise with a proven framework that helps children transform imagination into exceptional writing.
Whether your child is:
✅ Building confidence in English
✅ Looking to improve their creative writing
✅ Developing stronger storytelling skills
✅ Preparing for SATs
✅ Preparing for the 11+
✅ Working towards grammar school entrance exams
✅ Simply wanting to enjoy writing more
Step Write Up provides a structured, engaging pathway to writing success.
Why do so many children struggle with writing?
“Prior to September, he always said he hated writing but he has now just told me that he wants to be an author!”
Most children don’t lack imagination.
They struggle with knowing what to do with it.
Many children:
- Freeze when faced with a blank page
- Struggle to organise ideas
- Lack confidence in their writing
- Find storytelling difficult
- Use basic vocabulary repeatedly
- Struggle to create atmosphere and emotion
- Lack understanding of the key features of different genres
- Feel anxious when asked to write
I created Step Write Up because I saw too many capable children struggling, not because they lacked ability, but because they had never been taught a clear and effective writing process.
“She is really enjoying learning and developing her writing with you. Your encouragement has made her feel much more confident and enthusiastic.”
Meet the Teacher
Hi, I’m Ali Goulden
Former Wallington Girls’ student.
University of Warwick graduate.
Teacher for 26 years.
Former Head of English.
Full-time 11+ specialist for the past eight years.
My lessons are: Fun, Interactive, Engaging, Confidence Building and Focused on Measurable Progress
Over the years, I’ve helped hundreds of children improve their writing, increase their confidence, attain greater depth in their SATs and gain places at some of the UK’s leading grammar and independent schools
“I don’t have enough superlatives for how amazing Ali is! The confidence she instilled in my daughter was amazing.”
“ I just wanted to share that she received star of the week today for academic progress in writing.
She has grown so confident in her work. This is all down to you. With tears thank you so much for your teaching I am deeply grateful.
Thank you.”
“Thank you for the time you take in continuously developing your amazing resources. I’m appreciative of the time you have invested in these, as the combined impact with your excellent teaching skills is very visible in my child’s writing journey.”
Great Writing Isn’t A Gift
Why Step Write Up Is Different
Most writing tuition focuses on correcting mistakes.
Step Write Up focuses on developing confident, capable writers.
Many tutors teach children what to write.
Step Write Up teaches children how successful writers think.
Writing isn’t something children either have or don’t have.
Like reading, maths or sport, writing improves through effective teaching, practice and encouragement.
At Step Write Up, every child is given the tools they need to succeed.
After reviewing hundreds of successful pieces of writing, one thing has become clear:
The highest-scoring writers are rarely those with the biggest vocabularies.
They are the children who understand how to control: Structure, Pace, Tension, Atmosphere, Emotion, Audience, Purpose and Impact.
The Step Write Up Framework
Outstanding writing doesn’t happen by accident.
Children need a clear process they can trust.
That’s why every lesson follows the Step Write Up Framework
This framework is used across:
- Narrative Writing
- Persuasive Writing
- Recount Writing
- Discussion & Debate Writing
- Picture Stimulus Writing
Rather than relying on inspiration, children develop a toolkit they can use throughout primary school, secondary school and beyond.
Children explore the genre, analyse model examples, identify key features and build the foundations of successful writing.
Children learn to:
- Understand what makes writing effective
- Recognise successful techniques
- Generate and organise ideas
- Build confidence from the very beginning
Children develop and refine their skills through guided practice, discussion and detailed feedback.
Children learn to:
- Strengthen structure and organisation
- Improve vocabulary naturally
- Create atmosphere and tension
- Develop independence as writers
Children master advanced techniques that elevate their writing and make it memorable.
Children learn to:
- Craft powerful openings and endings
- Control pace for maximum impact
- Build authentic emotion
- Adapt writing for different audiences and purposes
Preparing for Writing Success, Including the 11+
Many families join Step Write Up because they want their child to become a stronger writer.
Others join because they are preparing for the 11+.
The reality is that both goals require the same foundations:
- Strong structure
- Clear organisation
- Engaging language
- Effective vocabulary
- Audience awareness
- Purpose
- Atmosphere
- Creativity