The Journey is a contemporary 3-act drama text specifically designed to keep large, mixed-ability groups of Key Stage 4 or 5 students (middle/high school) engaged and reading. Unlike traditional stage plays that are meant to be seen, this was written specifically for the classroom. It takes place entirely within the static setting of a class on a school coach. This constraint gives teachers a built-in, logical reason to keep all students in their seats, while providing a large cast to keep everyone actively engaged. The fast-paced dialogue combines humour and horror while directly addressing the real concerns of teenagers. The text comes complete with a cast list, the full 3-act play, and two afterwords (one on the writing process and another detailing the true event that inspired the play) and recommended teaching resources/activities. There is no sex or bad language.

Depending on their home background or primary school, students have very different experiences of RS before joining secondary school and as these are not tested by SATs, this test was designed to let teachers know the ability and prior learning of their new classes at the start of year 7. This is a closed question test to assess basic knowledge of the major religions and literacy skills. Implicitly, it also reinforces the purpose and relevance of learning about other religions. Questions and answer spaces are all on one double-sided sheet of A4. It can be self or peer assessed and comes with a powerpoint of all the answers allowing both test and marking to be completed in one lesson. The test is out of 50 marks so it can just be doubled to provide a percentage. The Test and the answers are both on Powerpoint so that they can be easily adapted if the teacher wishes.

For teachers of GCSE Religious Studies. This covers the nature and importance of predestination (Al Qadr) in Islam and the different views of Sunni and Shia Muslims. Accompanied with tasks, (including a starter, thought-provoking clip for a discussion point and a plenary), to ensure that students get all the important bits written up in their books. To simplify or save time if required, there is also a worksheet included. Incorporates good exam technique with command words, key vocabulary and model answers used to illustrate the topic. Lesson plan included. In other words, everything students need to know accordingly to the GCSE specification.

For teachers of GCSE Religious Studies. This covers the problem of evil and suffering for religious believers and definitions of key words, all with lots of examples and a model exam question answer. Each are accompanied with tasks, (including a thought-provoking starter/discussion point and plenary), to ensure that students get all the important bits written up in their text books. To simplify or save time if required, there is also two worksheets included. In other words, everything students need to know accordingly to the GCSE specification.

For teachers of GCSE Religious Studies. This covers the nature and importance of angels in Islam and individual characteristics of those named in the Qur’an. Each are accompanied with tasks, (including a thought-provoking starter/discussion point and plenary), to ensure that students get all the important bits written up in their books. To simplify or save time if required, there is also a worksheet included. In other words, everything students need to know accordingly to the GCSE specification.

This is a PPT led lesson covering the definition of Capital Punishment and examining arguments both for and against. This contains all the information necessary for the GCSE specification along with links, resources and differentiated tasks including an engaging starter, plenary and practise exam question.

For teachers of GCSE Religious Studies. This covers differing views on divorce from Catholic and other Christian denominations along with Bible quotes and an explanation of annulment and the recognised grounds for it. Definitions and celebrity examples are included and all parts are accompanied with tasks, (including a thought-provoking starter/discussion point and plenary), to ensure that students get all the important bits written up in their books. In other words, everything students need to know accordingly to the GCSE specification.

For teachers of GCSE Religious Studies. This PPT led lesson covers recaps the problem of suffering and offers four Christian answers, namely: Freewill, Psalms, a ‘vale of soul making’ and the story of Job. All are explained with notes and images and all parts are accompanied with tasks, (including a thought-provoking starter/discussion point and plenary), to ensure that students get all the important bits written up in their books. In other words, everything students need to know accordingly to the GCSE specification.

This is a PPT led lesson covering the nature and extent of Christian influence across the world. It also examines the priorities for the Christian church on a global scale and how both Catholic and Protestant churches achieve and use their influence. This contains all the information necessary for the GCSE specification along with links, resources and differentiated tasks to make sure that students get all the necessary information into their books.

For teachers of GCSE Religious Studies. This covers the nature, history and importance of pilgrimage in Christianity and the reasons why Christians throughout history have gone on pilgrimages. Each bit of the lesson is accompanied with tasks, (including a thought-provoking starter/discussion point and plenary), to ensure that students get all the important bits written up in their text books. In other words, everything students need to know accordingly to the GCSE specification.

This makes a game of learning/revising 30 key Islamic terms for GCSE. A very simple but hugely effective way of learning the key vocabulary of Islam and topics included in the GCSE exam. This can be a lesson in itself or a scaled down version of it could become a regular starter and plenary task. My students loved it so much we used it for about every lesson in the run up to the exam.

A PPT lesson with accompanying work sheets and tasks, (easy to open as Google slides if you prefer). The lesson is in two parts: When did Britain became multi-ethnic and multi-faith? A brief history of how Christianity split into different denominations Part 1 constructs a time-line to provide answers, starting with Celtic Paganism, Romans etc. up to the present day. Part 2 The second explains how Christianity split giving particularly reference to the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches (the Great Schism), Martin Luther’s Protestantism and Henry VIII establishing the Church of England. The accompanying worksheets have a variety of tasks to recap the information from the presentation. The presentation can be used on it’s own by the teacher (and is easily adapted if you wish) or set as an independent task for students to learn by themselves online. All keywords are explained.

Probably my favourite lesson! This is an introduction to persecution via a murder mystery story. Students then have to figure out who was most responsible for the murder. Trickier than it sounds and works brilliantly with every age group from primary to adults. Worksheets included to record ideas and aid focus but this is largely a discussion based lesson to practise oracy skills such as communication, persuasion etc. Contains answers and explanations and an analogy to WWII. Finishes by provoking ideas on what responsibility we have to help others in need with quotes and video clip. Everything contained on one, self-explanatory, powerpoint.

For teachers of GCSE Religious Studies. This covers the different types of families (with definitions and celebrity examples) and their functions along with religious and secular family values. Each are accompanied with tasks, (including a thought-provoking starter/discussion point and plenary and video link), to ensure that students get all the important bits written up in their text books. In other words, everything students need to know accordingly to the GCSE specification.

For teachers of GCSE Religious Studies. This is a PPT led lesson that includes all the information, tasks, links and a worksheet etc. needed to explain the significance and history of four sites of pilgrimage in Christianity, as specified in the GCSE specification. Pilgrimage 1 (also available) covers the nature, history and importance of pilgrimage in Christianity.

For teachers of GCSE Religious Studies. This covers the practicalities and ethical choices of contraception and family planning from a secular and Christian point of view. Each are accompanied with tasks, (including a thought-provoking starter, discussion points and plenary), to ensure that students get all the important bits written up in their text books. In other words, everything students need to know accordingly to the GCSE specification.

This is a whole lesson containing PPT and resources, and practises exam technique using examples from the topic of Matters of Life and Death. It includes a Do Now starter that students can personalise, an essay structuring activity, a choice of exam questions and a plenary to stretch and challenge all students. The main activity shows the structuring of a longer, essay type answer and includes a model answer on the question - “Science proves that God did not create the universe." Evaluate arguments for and against this statement. Students reassemble the individual points and explanations (each worth one mark) into the correct order to make a well structured essay.

This makes a game of learning/revising 32 key Christianity terms for GCSE. A very simple but hugely effective way of learning the key vocabulary of Christianity and topics included in the GCSE exam. This can be a lesson in itself or a scaled down version of it could become a regular starter and plenary task. My students loved it so much we used it for about ten lessons in the run up to the exam.

Designed for GCSE Religious Studies, this comes in three parts. All are in PowerPoint format and can be used as they are or easily adapted if the teacher wishes. A single page Knowlegde Organiser. This is the most important knowledge for the topic ‘Muslim Beliefs’ and is clearly set out in three key sections: Key Beliefs, Key Quotes and Key Vocabulary. A single A4 page Test sheet containing questions and spaces for the answers. This contains questions relating to the Knowledge Organiser and a literacy exercise to test their wrting skills (whilst also modelling a perfect exam answer). All are closed questions to make marking easy. There is a PowerPoint presentation so the teacher can take the class through the answers. This means that students can self or peer assess (and correct in a different colour to show progress!) and generate their score. The test and marking can both be covered in one lesson. I’ve used this successfully with lots of classes over the years (who have gone on to do very well in their GCSEs), so it has been well used, reviewed and fine tuned. Students stated that the Knowlegde Organisers were particularly clear and user friendly.

For teachers of GCSE Religious Studies. This covers how prayer and charity can be Christian responses to the problem of evil and suffering. Definitions and examples are included and all parts are accompanied with tasks, (including a thought-provoking starter/discussion point and plenary), to ensure that students get all the important bits written up in their books. The origins and current work of the Salvation Army are used as an example of a Christian charity. In other words, everything students need to know accordingly to the GCSE specification.

Designed for GCSE Religious Studies, this comes in three parts. All are in PowerPoint format and can be used as they are or easily adapted if the teacher wishes. A single page Knowlegde Organiser. This is the most important knowledge for the topic ‘Christian Practices/Living the Christian Life’ and is clearly set out in three key sections: Key Beliefs, Key Quotes and Key Vocabulary. A single A4 page Test sheet containing questions and spaces for the answers. This contains questions relating to the Knowledge Organiser and a literacy exercise to test their wrting skills (whilst also modelling a perfect exam answer). All are closed questions to make marking easy. There is a PowerPoint presentation so the teacher can take the class through the answers. This means that students can self or peer assess (and correct in a different colour to show progress!) and generate their score. The test and marking can both be covered in one lesson. I’ve used this successfully with lots of classes over the years (who have gone on to do very well in their GCSEs), so it has been well used, reviewed and fine tuned. Students stated that the Knowlegde Organisers were particularly clear and user friendly.