This unit is designed as a follow-on from my other introductory Greek Myths unit (also on TES), but could be taught as a standalone unit in its own right. This HT2 Odyssey scheme focuses on key episodes from Simon Armitage’s retelling, giving students a structured way into Homer’s epic while keeping lessons accessible and engaging. The unit includes a clear student booklet and a full set of lessons for the half term, with a balance of reading, discussion and purposeful writing tasks. Students explore Odysseus’ encounters with the Cyclops, the Sirens, Circe and more, building their understanding of character, theme and the idea of the hero’s journey. Lessons support close reading, inference, analytical writing, descriptive and narrative work, and thoughtful discussion. There’s a consistent emphasis on vocabulary, sentence crafting and reading resilience. The resources include retrieval practice, short assessments, knowledge organisers and detailed slides to help with delivery. Everything is set up so the unit can be taught straight away, while helping students deepen their knowledge of epic storytelling and strengthen core English skills.

This HT1 Greek Myths package brings together a clear, student-friendly booklet of myths and eight weeks of fully resourced lessons. It’s designed to make the first half-term smooth, consistent, and engaging, with a balance of reading, writing and discussion. Across the unit, students explore well-known stories such as Daedalus and Icarus, Perseus and Medusa, and Theseus and the Minotaur. The lessons focus on developing key English skills including close reading, inference, analytical paragraph writing, descriptive work, vocabulary building, and structured speaking and listening. The resources include retrieval activities, assessment opportunities, and detailed lesson slides to support delivery. Everything is organised so you can pick it up and teach, while giving students a solid grounding in myth, narrative structure, and effective language use. A second part for Half Term 2, themed around Simon Armitage’s The Odyssey, is also available on TES.

A comprehensive work booklet to support research and planning for the GCSE Spoken Language endorsement using Oxford University’s Oxplore website to focus ideas and research. The website can be found here: Oxplore.org This could be worked through in class with access to laptops or in a computer room, or as homework to prepare students for their Spoken Language presentations.

This was a competition I designed as an end of term project with my KS3 classes. They thoroughly enjoyed it and came up with some great pieces - really tricky though in only 100 words, really makes them think about their word selections and plot choices (you could always increase the word count). Included is a powerpoint containing an introduction and four planning lessons - however, you could very easily adapt this to make it stretch over a whole half-term by using extracts from a wider variety of survival literature and clips from films/tv. Lord of the Flies, Robinson Crusoe, Kensuke’s Kingdom etc…

A booklet which includes a timeline of key contextual factors which influenced the production & reception of The Handmaid’s Tale, along with a breakdown of the timeline which asks students to research each element and make links to the novel.

A revision lesson using pictures & symbols to help with remembering 10 key quotes from each Lit text. The first PPT is a lesson introducing the concept and the science behind it and the second is a sheet where they put it into practice. An Inspector Calls Macbeth A Christmas Carol Power & Conflict Poetry The worksheet should be printed on A3 & the second slide has the answers. You may wish to printed off some revision material with other key quotes on to help them depending how confident they are with quotes from memory.

A full scheme of learning to support the teaching and watching of 10 key sequences from This is England (2006). Includes a booklet for students to make notes in whilst watching sequences, split into film form, narrative, ideology.

A set of 16 unseen prose example questions based around the 25 Mark unseen prose question in the AQA A Level spec. I also use this as a stimulus/reading list for the NEA text choice, as all would be appropriate for comparison to A Doll’s House. However, they can easily just be used as standalone unseen prose extracts.

A fully resourced scheme of 14 PowerPoint lessons to teach the Unseen Poetry section of the AQA English Literature GCSE Paper 2. The PowerPoint has been designed around the official AQA teacher guide for unseen poetry (attached for convenience), and all referenced resources and poems can be found in this guide.

A series of two lessons of the ice skating extract from the Prelude. The first lesson introduces the poem and the second teaches comparison skills with a detailed model response.

An anthology of 12 poems and extracts (fiction & Non-fiction) on the theme of nature. Designed to introduce younger students to romantic poetry.

A full scheme to support the teaching and watching of 10 key sequences Kenneth Brannagh’s Belfast (2021). Includes a notes booklet for students to make notes on Film Form, Narrative and Ideology whilst watching.

A full Powerpoint of 12 lessons designed for Y7 teaching characterisation techniques for creating fanatsy characters, using tropes and stock characters and then looking at subverting and adapting them. Looks at: Villains Antiheroes Damsels in Distress Outlaws etc.

A fully resourced PPT containing 9 lessons designed to be taught while reading through A Christmas Carol, culminating in an assessment on Scrooge’s redemption. AFL strategies built in through traffic lights and clear tasks throughout.

A full scheme of lessons, 29 in total, 278 slides. Starts off using a couple of Ray Bradbury short stories and then a whole range of clips, images etc to create dystopian pieces of writing. There is also an opportunity for students to watch ‘The Hunger Games’ mid-way through if you wish. Originally planned for a very challenging bottom set Y9, but could be used for Y7 or 8 also.

A series of two lessons, the first introducing the poem and looking at sonnet conventions, the second teaching analysis with colour coded model response.

A series of two lessons on Heaney’s Death of a Naturalist. The first introducing the poem and the second looking for deeper meanings.

A full, 182 slide scheme of work covering every poem from the WJEC Eduqas poetry anthology. I taught this accompanied by a visualiser for annotating the poems themselves live with the students.

This is a fully resourced transition unit I designed for a fairly able Y7 group. It contains: An anthology of 20 poems/extracts, each set in a different country. A full set of 21 lessons which accompany the anthology Two assessments, one for the end of each half-term. This unit is designed to: Increase cultural capital and knowledge of the wider world, particularly post-lockdown Teach analysis skills (PETER Paragraphs) Encourage descriptive and creative writing

A full scheme introducing students to all aspects of Mise en Scene, using a variety of films but with a focus on Kubrick’s The Shining. Topics including: Setting Props Costume, Hair & Make-up Staging & Blocking Motif Sound

9 Example questions in the AQA style on Macbeth.