Planning Your Narrative – AQA 2026 English Language Writing Scaffold

Support students in planning structured, sensory-rich narratives using this clear five-part story planning scaffold, built for the reformed 2026 writing expectations from the exam board.

This resource guides learners step-by-step through the key stages of narrative construction:

The beginning – establishing weather, characters, setting and emotion

Rising action – introducing a problem and building early tension

Peak – crafting the most exciting moment using the 5 senses and sensory detail

Falling action – resolving the issue logically and believably

Ending – closing the narrative with emotion and optional plot twist

Students are prompted to think about:

Setting details including place and weather (PF = Pathetic Fallacy)

Character creation and their emotional development

Structural shifts to build suspense and tension

Sensory description using the 5 senses at the peak

Emotion resolution in the falling and ending

This scaffold turns story planning into a focused literacy task that strengthens independent writing confidence and links directly to the new 2026 language paper demands for writing with control, intention and impact.

Planning-your-narrative

What Teachers Receive

A full narrative planning document (ready to print or share)

Structured questions for every part of the story arc

Focus on emotion and sensory detail at every point

Ideal for modelling, guided practice, and intervention groups

Low preparation and highly adaptable for different writing lessons

Skills Developed

Narrative structure and pacing

Tension-building through setting and character reaction

Sensory writing using the 5 senses

Emotional literacy in storytelling

Pathetic fallacy (weather reflecting mood)

Independent planning that leads to stronger written outcomes

Alignment with the 2026 writing assessment objectives

Classroom Uses

Exam writing preparation for the reformed 2026 AQA GCSE English Language papers

Scaffolded planning before creative writing

Literacy intervention or tutor group writing support

Guided group planning or independent homework activity

Modelling how structure influences impact

Suitable For

Secondary English (KS3–KS5)

EAL and SEN learners needing clear structure

College or adult literacy groups practising controlled narrative construction

Any cohort developing confidence in independent writing planning

Why This Resource Works

Teaches students to plan before writing

Links directly to exam writing expectations

Builds vocabulary, sensory detail, tone and pacing

Helps learners express character emotion clearly

Encourages discussion around structure and intent

Ready-to-use, editable and printable