Edexcel iGCSE History Henry VIII - Thomas Cromwell Rise to Power

This fully resourced Edexcel IGCSE History lesson explores why Thomas Cromwell’s rise to power was driven by talent rather than noble birth. Designed for the Edexcel iGCSE Tudor England course and written by a History examiner, the lesson develops secure content knowledge, historical vocabulary, and exam writing skills.

Students investigate Cromwell’s background, personal qualities, and political skill, linking these to his ability to solve Henry VIII’s Great Matter and strengthen royal authority. Structured activities include mind mapping, conjunction writing, consequence ranking, “most important” judgement tasks, and analysis of key legislation such as the Act of Restraint of Appeals. Students also examine Cromwell’s expanding roles, from Chief Minister to Vicegerent in Spirituals, to understand how talent translated into power.

How I use this resource:
I use this lesson to model judgement and consequence questions, helping students explain why Cromwell succeeded and how his actions reshaped Tudor government.

Ideal for teachers seeking high-quality Edexcel iGCSE Tudor History resources focused on literacy, analysis, and exam success.
I also have many similar iGCSE Henry VIII, Wolsey, and Cromwell lessons available in my online TES shop.