A lesson introducing structure in Dystopian Fiction focusing on ‘The Road’ by Cormac McCarthy. Suitable for an able GCSE class or as an introduction to Dystopian Fiction for a top set Y9. Worksheet and Powerpoint.

Tackles the use of Shakespeare’s Method - the serious flaw in pupils’ responses. Can be delivered to a whole year group or class by class, to make sure that this key factor in teaching is sorted.

A useful ppt to support any media, non-fiction or other work, where gender issues are likely to figure as a part of the learning. Being a difficult and controversial issue, the ppt makes no claim to expertise; it only throws out ideas.

Full lesson with PPT allowing middle to high ability pupils to closely analyse the poem in all its fantastic depth. I used this lesson to get myself a job in a prestigious school; the class were very able and super responsive. It’s not didactic, that’s not how I teach, so expect the pupils to get stuck in and give you plenty of feedback. It’s what they think that matters.

Philip Larkin, Maya Angelou, Simon Armitage, Gillian Clarke, Sylvia Plath, Tony Harrison RS Thomas, Linda Pastan, Theodore Roethke, Vicki Feaver, Seamus Heaney, Carol Anne Duffy, Wislawa Syzymborska, WH Auden, Ekaterina Serbrovskaya, Anna Akhmatova, John Agard.

This is pretty much my most popular resource; I use it with all abilities, there’s loads to do and some of it admittedly is in my style, but you can do what you like with it - you’re buying it:-)

Based on Seamus Heaney’s ‘Follower’, the lecture tackles the key methods pupils need to identify and comment on in Literature Paper 2

A range of poets including Philip Larkin, Maya Angelou, Tony Harrison, Simon Armitage, Gillian Clarke etc These are my choice and not just re-cycled old anthology poems (well, except the Armitage and Clarke). But I like them so stuff it.

A great introduction to Persuasive Writing, using adverts to stimulate interest and engagement in the main task, analysis of three texts: JFK’s Moon Speech, Old Major’s Speech from Animal Farm and and Extract from Swift’s A Modest Proposal.

About 5 weeks’ work for KS3. Extracts, ppts and activities based on Great Expectations, Bleak House and Oliver Twist, for an able Y7 class, a good mixed ability Y8 class, or a struggling Y9 class to prepare them for the language and themes in A Christmas Carol

A one size fits all powerpoint to revise the importance of method when analysing Dickens in Q1 AQA English Literature Paper 1

6 weeks’ work with PPTs and Worksheets - works as an introduction to Gothic Literature. Could be used for a very able Y7 group, a mixed ability Y8 or a reluctant Y9 group as an introduction to the more challenging vocabulary and syntax of Dickens and Stevenson.

Can be delivered to a whole year group or class by class to absolutely nail the method aspect of paper 1 Lit.

A fun way of introducing writing to instruct, using the scenario of a Zombie Apocalypse.

This is a right laugh to do with Y9 kids, to stimulate creative writing, writing for a purpose or as an introdution to GCSE Media / Film studies.

Basically these are my resources for the last specifications and before, which is why they are cheap. They will get you sailing towards the new specs for sure, helping the kids to get fully familiar with the basics, including language, themes, context and characters.

This is a well-crafted, highly visual, lecture for middle to upper ability kids who need to move from band 2 to band 3 - focusing explicitly on Priestley’s dramatic methods and effects on an audience.

A complete unit of work giving pupils practical experience of the knowledge and skills necessary for the new spec AQA English Language Paper 1.

This is really useful for a disengaged GCSE class, using banned music videos as a starting point for spoken language or a piece of transactional writing. I’ve suggested some really interesting videos (all on Youtube) but I’m 50 now, and not as down with the kids as I used to be, so you’d probably want to augment the unit with some gangsters shooting each other or scantily clad dancers with gold teeth smoking decidedly dodgy looking Vape machines. Or something.

Helps Y9 produce a piece of creative writing based on the opening 20 minutes of Saving Private Ryan (an old coursework / controlled writing task). You can also use the resource to help prepare Y9 pupils for Q5 paper 1, looking at details on images and helping them to write creatively in response.