ELIZABETH'S PRIVY COUNCIL

Elizabeth I and the Privy Council – AQA GCSE History KS4 Lesson

Resource Description:
This GCSE lesson focuses on the structure and significance of Elizabeth I’s government, with a particular emphasis on the Privy Council. It is designed for the AQA GCSE History unit: Elizabethan England, c1568–1603, and helps students understand the key figures in Elizabeth’s court and how she maintained control over her advisors.

Learning Objectives:
Identify the key members of Elizabeth’s Privy Council and their roles
Explain how Elizabeth used patronage and political strategy to manage her government
Evaluate the importance of the Privy Council and how effective it was in supporting Elizabeth’s rule

Lesson Features:

Clear differentiation with Must / Should / Could learning outcomes
Visual source starter using the Bronze / Silver / Gold format to develop inference skills
Detailed breakdown of Elizabethan government and the concept of the Divine Right of Kings
Focus on AQA-specific content: Privy Council, patronage, factional rivalry, and Elizabeth’s political skill
Source analysis task featuring historian John Warren’s interpretation (supports AO3)
Retrieval and comprehension questions to consolidate knowledge
Extended written question prompts to support evaluation and interpretation