Buy the book: Writing Fitness by David Didau & Rikki Cole
“With detail and precision, this powerful book maps the path teachers can follow to unlock the joy and the power of the written word for students. It is an outstanding guide made doubly important by the fact that without it, students are less and less likely learn to craft of slow and careful writing in an increasingly fast and digital world.”
Doug Lemov, author of Teach Like a Champion
Couch to 5K Writing is a structured programme, inspired by the C25K running programme, designed to help students build genuine writing competence step-by-step.
Too often, writing is treated as a performance rather than a skill, with pupils expected to produce extended pieces before they have mastered the component parts.
C25K Writing flips that logic. Drawing on insights from cognitive science and classroom practice, it breaks writing down into manageable, sequenced routines that prioritise clarity, control, and confidence.
Like its running namesake, the focus is on gradual progression, deliberate practice, and habits that stick. The result is writing that improves because students know what they are doing, and why.
