Are you homeschooling your child and looking for expert support from a qualified secondary teacher?
Mr. Burke’s Homeschool Academy provides structured, curriculum-based English and Sociology lessons in a small-group school setting – all delivered online during term time.
Overview
🔹 Schedule Options
🇬🇧 UK Time
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
12:00 – 1:15 PM
🟦 Year 10 Literature
🟪 Year 7A
🟪 Year 7A
🟦 Year 10 Literature
(No session)
5 minutes
1:20 – 2:35 PM
🟥 Year 10 Language
🟨 Year 8A
🟫 Year 11 Literature
🟥 Year 10 Language
🟨 Year 8A
5 minutes
2:40 – 3:55 PM
🟩 Year 11 Language
🟧 Year 9A
🟧 Year 9A
🟩 Year 11 Language
🟫 Year 11 Literature
At Mr. Burke’s Classroom, we believe in transparency, flexibility, and rewarding commitment. All fees include:
At Mr. Burke’s Classroom, we offer flexible payment options to suit every family.
Every plan includes:
📌 Choose Your Payment Plan
Option
Amount You Pay
Payment Schedule
Includes
Savings
✅ Full Year Upfront
£1,150
One payment in September
All 66 lessons across the full academic year
Save £170
✅ Termly Plan
£420 per term
Three payments – Sept, Jan, Apr
22 lessons per term
Save £90
✅ Half-Termly Plan
£220 every half term
Six payments – before each half term
11 lessons per half term
Save £30
🚨 Pay Per Lesson
£25 per lesson
Weekly or ad hoc (subject to availability)
Book as needed
❗No savings
What Each Year Group Will Study
Below is an overview of the topics covered in each year group.
Full schemes of work will be accessible via dropdown menus for each year group on the website.
Academic Calendar 2025–2026
Mr. Burke’s Classroom Homeschool Academy
Our academic year follows a term-time calendar aligned with most UK school schedules, with purposeful breaks throughout the year to support rest, family time, and productivity. All live lessons are taught by Mr. Burke and delivered online.
Get expert support in a focused, nurturing environment that mirrors the structure of mainstream school while offering the flexibility of homeschooling.
The Homeschool Academy is an online alternative provision designed to give students a full and structured pathway towards their GCSE English Language and Literature qualifications. It provides the rigour, routine, and expertise of mainstream school but in a smaller, more personalised setting.
Delivered fully online via Google Meet, Google Docs, and Google Classroom, the Academy combines live teaching, independent learning, and targeted feedback. Every lesson is taught by Mr Burke — a fully qualified English teacher and AQA examiner — ensuring that students receive consistent, expert guidance as they prepare for their exams. 
3 live classes per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday).
75 minutes per lesson – focused and interactive, with time for discussion, modelling, and practice.
Small groups capped at 6 students for maximum individual support.
Structured programmes for Years 9, 10, and 11 that build skills gradually and prepare students fully for their GCSE.
Full use of Google Classroom – all resources, homework, feedback, and progress updates are stored online. Parents can also access this to monitor progress.Homework is a compulsory part of the programme. Each week, every student is set two tasks designed to consolidate learning and build exam skills.
Task 1 is usually exam-focused (e.g., a short timed response to a past paper question, analysis of an extract, or a comparative task).
Task 2 is designed to strengthen longer-term skills (e.g., vocabulary building, creative or transactional writing practice, or revision notes on set texts).Both tasks must be submitted through Google Classroom by the weekly deadline. Each piece of homework receives detailed feedback, with clear next steps, so that progress is steady and measurable.
Independent learning is particularly vital in Year 11, where students are expected to take increasing responsibility for revision and practice.
| Month (Payment Due) | Teaching Dates in Month | Lessons | Monthly Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 2025 (due 1 Nov) | Tue 4 Nov – Thu 27 Nov | 12 | £240 |
| December 2025 (due 1 Dec) | Tue 2 Dec – Thu 18 Dec | 9 | £180 |
| January 2026 (due 9 Jan) | Tue 13 Jan – Thu 29 Jan | 9 | £180 |
| February 2026 (due 1 Feb) | Tue 3 Feb – Thu 26 Feb (no lessons 16–20 Feb half-term) | 9 | £180 |
| March 2026 (due 1 Mar) | Tue 3 Mar – Thu 26 Mar | 12 | £240 |
| April 2026 (due 1 Apr) | Tue 21 Apr – Thu 30 Apr | 6 | £120 |
| May 2026 (due 1 May) | Tue 5 May – Thu 21 May (no lessons 25–29 May half-term) | 9 | £180 |
| June 2026 (due 1 Jun) | Tue 2 Jun – Thu 25 Jun | 13 | £260 |
| July 2026 (due 1 Jul) | Wed 1 Jul – Thu 16 Jul | 8 | £160 |
Our academic year is carefully structured around the three school terms. Lessons are delivered online via Google Meet, with breaks for major holidays.
| Term | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn Term | Tue 4 Nov – Fri 19 Dec 2025 |
| Spring Term | Mon 12 Jan – Fri 27 Mar 2026 |
| Summer Term (Y9 & Y10) | Mon 20 Apr – Fri 17 Jul 2026 |
| Summer Term (Y11) | Mon 20 Apr – Fri 5 Jun 2026 |
| Break | Dates |
|---|---|
| Christmas Holidays | Mon 22 Dec 2025 – Fri 9 Jan 2026 |
| February Half-Term | Mon 16 – Fri 20 Feb 2026 |
| Easter Holidays | Mon 30 Mar – Fri 17 Apr 2026 |
| May Half-Term | Mon 25 – Fri 29 May 2026 |
| Summer Holiday (Y9 & Y10) | Begins Mon 20 Jul 2026 |
| Date | Exam Paper |
|---|---|
| Mon 11 May 2026 | English Literature Paper 1 (Shakespeare & 19th-Century Novel) |
| Tue 19 May 2026 | English Literature Paper 2 (Modern Texts & Poetry) |
| Thu 21 May 2026 | English Language Paper 1 (Creative Reading & Writing) |
| Fri 5 Jun 2026 | English Language Paper 2 (Writers’ Viewpoints & Perspectives) |
| Year Group | Age | Lesson Days | Lesson Times (UK) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 9 | 13–14 years | Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday | 11:00 – 12:15 |
| Year 10 | 14–15 years | Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday | 12:15 – 13:30 |
| Year 11 | 15–16 years | Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday | 13:30 – 14:45 |
Year 9 is a foundation year that bridges the gap between KS3 and GCSE. The focus is on building the essential skills students will need for success in their GCSE English Language and Literature courses in Years 10 and 11.
By the end of the year, students will be confident in:
The Year 9 course introduces students to the skills, content, and exam style of GCSE, ensuring they are fully prepared to begin their formal GCSE studies in Year 10.
Focus: A Christmas Carol + Paper 1 Skills
Term dates: Tue 4 Nov – Fri 19 Dec 2025
| Week (WC) | Focus | Objective |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (WC 3 Nov) | Context: Dickens & Victorian Britain | Understand 19th-century poverty, charity, and Dickens’ purpose. |
| 2 (WC 10 Nov) | Stave 1 – Scrooge introduced | Analyse Dickens’ language when presenting Scrooge at the start. |
| 3 (WC 17 Nov) | Stave 2 – Ghost of Christmas Past | Explore memory, childhood, and transformation through imagery. |
| 4 (WC 24 Nov) | Stave 3 – Ghost of Christmas Present | Examine themes of generosity, family, and poverty. |
| 5 (WC 1 Dec) | Stave 4 – Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come | Analyse fear, mortality, and gothic tone. |
| 6 (WC 8 Dec) | Stave 5 – Scrooge’s transformation | Explore redemption and Dickens’ social message. |
| 7 (WC 15 Dec) | Paper 1 Skills (Q2–Q4) + Recap | Practise language, structure, and evaluation skills with extracts; mini end-of-term assessment. |
Focus: Romeo and Juliet + Paper 2 Skills
Term dates: Mon 12 Jan – Fri 27 Mar 2026 (Half-term: 16–20 Feb)
| Week (WC) | Focus | Objective |
|---|---|---|
| 8 (WC 12 Jan) | Shakespeare’s context & Prologue | Explore Elizabethan society, family honour, fate. |
| 9 (WC 19 Jan) | Act 1 – Love and conflict | Analyse how Shakespeare introduces themes of love & violence. |
| 10 (WC 26 Jan) | Paper 2 Q1–Q2 | Retrieve/summarise info from non-fiction texts. |
| 11 (WC 2 Feb) | Act 2 – Romeo & Juliet’s relationship | Explore Shakespeare’s use of religious imagery. |
| 12 (WC 9 Feb) | Paper 2 Q3 – Language | Compare how language presents ideas across texts. |
| — (WC 16 Feb) | Half-term break | No lessons. |
| 13 (WC 23 Feb) | Act 3 – Tybalt, Mercutio, and conflict | Explore dramatic tension and the play’s turning point. |
| 14 (WC 2 Mar) | Paper 2 Q4 – Viewpoints | Compare perspectives in non-fiction extracts. |
| 15 (WC 9 Mar) | Act 4 – Juliet’s dilemma | Analyse character development and dramatic irony. |
| 16 (WC 16 Mar) | Act 5 – Tragic ending | Explore fate, choice, and Shakespeare’s message. |
| 17 (WC 23 Mar) | Consolidation + Assessment | End-of-term extract analysis + Paper 2 writing task. |
Focus: Love & Relationships Poetry + Paper 1 & 2 Integration
Term dates: Mon 20 Apr – Fri 17 Jul 2026 (Half-term: 25–29 May)
| Week (WC) | Focus | Objective |
|---|---|---|
| 18 (WC 20 Apr) | Intro to Poetry Anthology & unseen | Learn how to annotate and analyse unseen poems. |
| 19 (WC 27 Apr) | When We Two Parted (Byron) + Paper 1 Q2 | Analyse language of loss and bitterness. |
| 20 (WC 4 May) | Love’s Philosophy (Shelley) + Paper 1 Q3 | Explore persuasion and romantic imagery. (UK Bank Holiday 4 May) |
| 21 (WC 11 May) | Sonnet 29 (Barrett Browning) | Analyse imagery and passion in sonnet form. |
| 22 (WC 18 May) | Porphyria’s Lover (Browning) | Explore obsession, power, and control. |
| — (WC 25 May) | Half-term break | No lessons. |
| 23 (WC 1 Jun) | Neutral Tones (Hardy) | Explore disappointment and bitterness in love. |
| 24 (WC 8 Jun) | Paper 2 Q5 – Transactional writing | Write letters/articles linking to themes of relationships. |
| 25 (WC 15 Jun) | Comparative poetry skills | Learn how to compare two poems on theme and methods. |
| 26 (WC 22 Jun) | The Farmer’s Bride (Mew) | Analyse gender, control, and power imbalance. |
| 27 (WC 29 Jun) | Winter Swans (Sheers) | Explore reconciliation and natural imagery. |
| 28 (WC 6 Jul) | Singh Song! (Nagra) | Explore culture, humour, and modern love. |
| 29 (WC 13 Jul) | Final revision & assessment | Timed poetry comparison + Paper 1/2 practice tasks. |
Year 10 is the foundation GCSE year. The aim is to:
By the end of Year 10, students should be confident with the demands of both GCSE papers and have studied the majority of their Literature set texts in depth. Students will **progress into year 11** and complete the Shakespeare text and continue with further practice on english language as well as revision for final exams.
Focus: A Christmas Carol (English Literature)
Dates: Tue 4 Nov – Fri 19 Dec 2025
| Week (WC) | Focus | Objective |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (WC 3 Nov) | Dickens’ context & Victorian society | Understand poverty, inequality, and Dickens’ purpose. |
| 2 (WC 10 Nov) | Stave 1 – Scrooge’s introduction | Analyse how Dickens presents Scrooge as cold & greedy. |
| 3 (WC 17 Nov) | Stave 2 – Ghost of Christmas Past | Explore memory, childhood, and emotional change. |
| 4 (WC 24 Nov) | Stave 3 – Ghost of Christmas Present | Examine generosity, Christmas spirit, and poverty. |
| 5 (WC 1 Dec) | Stave 4 – Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come | Analyse gothic tone, fear of death, and Scrooge’s fate. |
| 6 (WC 8 Dec) | Stave 5 – Scrooge’s redemption | Explore transformation, social responsibility, Christian morality. |
| 7 (WC 15 Dec) | Consolidation & mini-assessment | Extract-based essay + feedback on exam technique. |
Focus: An Inspector Calls (English Literature) + integrated Language Paper 1 practice
Dates: Mon 12 Jan – Fri 27 Mar 2026 (Half-term: Mon 16 – Fri 20 Feb)
| Week (WC) | Focus | Objective |
|---|---|---|
| 8 (WC 12 Jan) | Context: 1912/1945 & Priestley’s purpose | Explore capitalism vs socialism; Priestley’s message. |
| 9 (WC 19 Jan) | Act 1 – The Birlings | Analyse dramatic irony and family dynamics. |
| 10 (WC 26 Jan) | Inspector’s entrance | Explore tension and authority of the Inspector. |
| 11 (WC 2 Feb) | Act 2 – Sheila’s transformation | Analyse development of responsibility. |
| 12 (WC 9 Feb) | Act 2 – Gerald & Mrs Birling | Explore class, gender, and hypocrisy. |
| — (WC 16 Feb) | Half-term | — |
| 13 (WC 23 Feb) | Act 3 – Eric’s role | Analyse guilt and generational conflict. |
| 14 (WC 2 Mar) | Inspector’s final speech & ending | Explore cyclical structure and Priestley’s socialist message. |
| 15 (WC 9 Mar) | Language Paper 1 practice – Q1–Q4 linked extracts | Practise comprehension, language analysis, structure, evaluation. |
| 16 (WC 16 Mar) | Language Paper 1 practice – Q5 descriptive/narrative | Practise creative writing inspired by AIC themes. |
| 17 (WC 23 Mar) | Consolidation & final assessment | Timed AIC extract essay + Paper 1 writing task. |
Focus: Power & Conflict Poetry Anthology (English Literature) + Paper 2 integration at end
Dates: Mon 20 Apr – Fri 17 Jul 2026 (Half-term: Mon 25 – Fri 29 May)
| Week (WC) | Poems & Theme | Objective |
|---|---|---|
| 18 (WC 20 Apr) | Ozymandias (Shelley) & London (Blake) – Power & control | Analyse authority, society, and human power. |
| 19 (WC 27 Apr) | The Prelude (Wordsworth) & Storm on the Island (Heaney) – Nature | Explore sublime and destructive forces of nature. |
| 20 (WC 4 May) | My Last Duchess (Browning) & Checking Out Me History (Agard) – Power of voice | Analyse control, history, and identity. (UK BH Mon 4 May) |
| 21 (WC 11 May) | Charge of the Light Brigade (Tennyson) & Exposure (Owen) – War & patriotism | Examine sacrifice and futility of war. |
| 22 (WC 18 May) | Bayonet Charge (Hughes) & Remains (Armitage) – War & aftermath | Analyse instinct, trauma, and memory. |
| — (WC 25 May) | Half-term | — |
| 23 (WC 1 Jun) | Poppies (Weir) & War Photographer (Duffy) – Memory & conflict | Explore grief, loss, and representation of war. |
| 24 (WC 8 Jun) | Tissue (Dharker) & The Émigrée (Rumens) – Fragility & identity | Analyse themes of culture, memory, and fragility. |
| 25 (WC 15 Jun) | Comparative essay practice – War poems cluster | Plan & write comparison essays. |
| 26 (WC 22 Jun) | Comparative essay practice – Power poems cluster | Refine analysis across multiple texts. |
| 27 (WC 29 Jun) | English Language Paper 2 – Q1–Q3 practice (linked extracts on war/empire) | Practise retrieval, summary, and language analysis. |
| 28 (WC 6 Jul) | English Language Paper 2 – Q4 & Q5 practice | Compare viewpoints + persuasive writing tasks. |
| 29 (WC 13 Jul) | Consolidation & assessment | Timed poetry comparison + Paper 2 practice response. |
The 2025–26 academic year for Year 11 students at Mr Burke’s Classroom will focus exclusively on GCSE English Language. Because these students are entering in their final year, there is not enough time to cover both English Literature and English Language in a meaningful and thorough way. Instead, the priority is ensuring students are fully prepared to achieve their best possible grade in AQA English Language — a qualification that is essential for progression to sixth form, college, apprenticeships, university, and the workplace.
Students will spend the year developing and practising the full range of skills needed for AQA Paper 1 (Creative Reading and Writing) and AQA Paper 2 (Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives).
Focus: Paper 1 reading (Q1–Q4) + Paper 1 Q5 descriptive/narrative writing
Dates: Tue 4 Nov – Fri 19 Dec 2025
| Week (WC) | Focus | Objective |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (4 Nov) | Paper 1 overview & success criteria | Know the paper structure; decode questions; mark scheme insights. |
| 2 (10 Nov) | Q1 retrieval & Q2 language | Precise retrieval; analyse effects of imagery, diction, and sentence craft. |
| 3 (17 Nov) | Q3 structure | Track shifts, focus, and narrative movement; write sharp, evidence-led analysis. |
| 4 (24 Nov) | Q4 evaluation | Argue “to what extent” with judicious evidence; embed critical vocabulary. |
| 5 (1 Dec) | Q5: description | Craft openings/endings; sensory detail; perspective and show-don’t-tell. |
| 6 (8 Dec) | Q5: narrative | Planning frames; controlling viewpoint, pacing, and cohesion under time. |
| 7 (15 Dec) | Autumn synthesis | Whole-paper strategies; set full Paper 1 as holiday homework (timed). |
Focus: Paper 2 reading (Q1–Q4) & viewpoints/comparison
Dates: Mon 12 Jan – Fri 13 Feb 2026
| Week (WC) | Focus | Objective |
|---|---|---|
| 12 (12 Jan) | Paper 2 overview & source handling | Work across two non-fiction sources; time-splitting; annotation routines. |
| 13 (19 Jan) | Q1 retrieval & summary | Select key info; summarise differences succinctly with inferential phrasing. |
| 14 (26 Jan) | Q3 language (non-fiction) | Analyse rhetoric, tone, and viewpoint in articles, speeches, letters. |
| 15 (2 Feb) | Q4 comparison | Compare perspectives/methods across time; paragraph frames for synthesis. |
| 16 (9 Feb) | Paper 2 reading clinic | Mixed Q1–Q4 drills; targeted weak-spot fixes; set Paper 2 reading HW. |
Focus: Paper 2 Q5 transactional writing + Paper 1 refresh
Dates: Mon 23 Feb – Fri 27 Mar 2026
| Week (WC) | Focus | Objective |
|---|---|---|
| 17 (23 Feb) | Q5 formats (article/letter/speech) | Audience, purpose, register; openings/closings that land. |
| 18 (2 Mar) | Argument & persuasion | Rhetorical devices; paragraph architecture; counter-argument & rebuttal. |
| 19 (9 Mar) | Tone & style control | Formality spectrum; sentence variety; cohesion with discourse markers. |
| 20 (16 Mar) | Paper 1 refresh (Q1–Q4) | Tighten reading analysis; precision and succinctness under time. |
| 21 (23 Mar) | Paper 1 Q5 polish | Narrative vs description choices; 45-minute writing routines; set full Paper 1 HW. |
Focus: Final run-up—Paper 1 & Paper 2 rotation, exam routines, speed & accuracy
Dates: Mon 20 Apr – Fri 22 May 2026
| Week (WC) | Focus | Objective |
|---|---|---|
| 22 (20 Apr) | Paper 1: Q2–Q4 sprints | High-yield inference & analysis; model > joint write > independent. |
| 23 (27 Apr) | Paper 1: Q5 mastery | High-band crafting; vocabulary choice, imagery precision, structural control. |
| 24 (4 May) | Paper 2: Q1–Q4 sprints | Fast comparison; method spotting; tight topic sentences. |
| 25 (11 May) | Exam week context | Light-touch rehearsal & calm routines while schools sit other subjects. |
| 26 (18 May) | Final Paper 1 preparation → EXAM Thu 21 May | 30–35 min live drills; micro-feedback; Paper 1 confidence & timing. |
Focus: Final Paper 2 preparation
Dates: Mon 1 Jun – Fri 5 Jun 2026
| Week (WC) | Focus | Objective |
|---|---|---|
| 27 (1 Jun) | Paper 2 exam clinic → EXAM Fri 5 Jun | Timed Q1–Q4 set (live marking), Q5 planning clinic, checklist, calm routine. |
📝 If you are interested in enrolling, please complete the registration form using the link below. The form will ask a few short questions to help us understand your needs and place the student in the most suitable group.
📞 Once your registration has been submitted, you will receive contact from Mr Burke within 72 hours to arrange a short telephone consultation. This call is an opportunity to discuss your child’s needs (or your own, for adult courses), confirm the most appropriate class, and outline the next steps.
✅ After the consultation, your place on the course will be confirmed.
🔗 Click here to complete the Registration Form
📧 If you would prefer, you can also contact us directly by email:
info@mrburkesclassroom.com
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