About the author:
I am currently a teacher of English in a wonderful West Midlands secondary school, having prior experience as a Literacy Lead, Specialist Leader of Education, SLT Lead, AQA examiner and Head of English. I am in my fourteenth year of teaching and as such am keen to share resources I have used successfully, both in my own lessons and across my school / MAT.
About the author:
I am currently a teacher of English in a wonderful West Midlands secondary school, having prior experience as a Literacy Lead, Specialist Leader of Education, SLT Lead, AQA examiner and Head of English. I am in my fourteenth year of teaching and as such am keen to share resources I have used successfully, both in my own lessons and across my school / MAT.
This resource contains a 30 slide PPT on comparing power and conflict poetry for GCSE AQA English Literature. Updated Jan 2022, it contains tips, techniques, model answers and advice for comparing, with 3 focus questions covering different poems.
NB, this resource is not focused on teaching the poems but is designed to be used AFTER poems have been covered to refine comparison and exam skills.
PPT contains:
Intro to approaching poetry
Possible themes to compare
7 sample questions for discussion
A focus on a question and video link recap on ‘Remains’, presented in a Venn diagram for comparison
2 exemplar paragraphs comparing to ‘Prelude’
Discussion of a question focused on ‘My Last Duchess’
Recap of Last Duchess (video link)
Venn diagram comparing to Ozymandias
Mark scheme
Break down of how to construct a paragraph (PEEZL)
A gap fill exercise that scaffolds this method for weaker pupils
A check list to write the comparative paragraph and some phrases to boost marks
Peer assessment opportunities
A focus question on Bayonet Charge (plus a video link recap)
3 example responses to the question of varied levels
Pupil exercise to craft their own response
Advice for not having a quote to use
A bonus unseen poem at the end (Alpine Letter) and question to work through, if required
This resource was designed as a revision block on Lord of the Flies for higher ability GCSE pupils (grades 5-9), having already studied the novel. (There is also a full scheme of work PPT available for the first teaching of this). Updated Feb 2022
It includes 32 slides of activities and information (approx 6 lessons), including:
plot and character recap
theme recap (group activity)
provocative statements to provoke discussion
Images to prompt discussion of symbols
Recap of allusion (specifically biblical)
historical context - Golding
A nihilist view, Nietzsche
Discussion questions
Advice on exam questions and example questions
Quote finding exercise
2 exemplar responses to exam questions (level 5 and 6)
planning an exam response
advice on thesis statements for good intros
an exemplar high grade paragraph
All of the above is included in the powerpoint file itself, not as separate documents
This resource is a 20 slide revision PPT for Animal Farm AQA GCSE English Literature examination (modern text).
It covers all you need to revise the text with pupils, including:
plot recap task + diagram
key character mind mapping task + quote finding
suggested key character quotes
minor character task + suggested quotes
key context image task
key context information
quote exploding task with modelled example
themes table task with scaffolded option
key vocab task (find definitions)
past exam questions planning task - 8 past exam questions included with 1 modelled planning example
AQA mark schemes
This resource was created April 2022
Includes a 13 slide PPT for revision of Macbeth for Literature Paper 1 AQA (paper 2 in 2022 due to changes)
Covers exam technique, mark scheme, plot, characters, quotes, themes, tragedy genre, context and an example exam question. New for 2022
A lesson examining Duffy’s poem Medusa. Suited to upper Ks3 or lower ks4; updated March 2022.
Begins by introducing Medusa as a historical myth before looking at a crunched version of the poem to consider language out of context. Pupils then search for techniques in the poem and consider their effect. There is an opportunity for annotation and first impressions, followed by some suggested annotations written on the poem. Finally there is a writing frame, a quote hunt and a more lighthearted task where they create a dating profile for Duffy’s character.
Great as an introduction for approaching unseen poems or as part of a wider poetic study in preparation for GCSE Literature.
This resource contains a 34 slide powerpoint designed to be used for staff training in literacy across the curriculum. It divides literacy into 5 key areas:
Reading and comprehension strategies
Writing fluency strategies
Literacy through DIT (directed improvement time)
Spelling and vocab skill building
Inference and analysis skill building
Each area comprises suggested strategies and tasks suitable for any subject area and teacher across the KS3 and GCSE curriculum, in order to build literacy skills without sacrificing content. It can be used as a ‘pick n mix’ bundle, allowing staff to focus on areas that are not as strong in their current curriculum, or as a package deal looking at all areas.
Examples, worksheets and extra resources are included to aid in the delivery of staff training on this topic. Some have been created from scratch, others have been sourced online and included/ adapted as examples.
Strategies are based heavily in research to improve literacy within school settings, developed by an experienced, current practicing English teacher / former HOD and current literacy lead.
This resource is a Macbeth booklet including key scenes necessary for GCSE study. The booklet can be used flexibly, highlighting further scenes that can be omitted, should you wish to work with less of the text with a lower ability set.
The full play has been carefully edited, removing parts of dialogue not entirely necessary for GCSE pupil understanding, whilst maintaining the integrity and flow of the narrative. There is a cover page and the booklet totals 27 A4 pages, helpfully formatted into columns with a contents page for easy navigation.
The original text sits at 18121 words, whereas this edited version brings it down to 11754 - far more manageable with the time constraints of GCSE.
The scenes included are as follows:
Act 1 scene I: witches
Act 1 scene II: camp after battle **
Act 1 scene III: Macbeth and Duncan meet witches
Act 1 scene V: Lady Macbeth – the Raven
Act 1 scene VII: Lady Macbeth and Macbeth argue
Act 2 scene I: Macbeth and Duncan
Act 2 scene II: Lady Macbeth covers up
Act 2 scene III: Porter and discovery of Duncan **
Act 2 scene IV: Old man and Lennox **
Act 3 scene I: Banquo betrayed
Act 3 scene II: shielding Lady Macbeth
Act 3 scene IV: banquet and ghost
Act 4 scene I: Witches and Macbeth – prophecies
Act 4 scene II: Macduff’s castle
Act 4 scene III: Macduff meets Malcolm **
Act 5 scene I: Doctor tends to Lady Macbeth
Act 5 scene II: soldiers **
Act 5 scene III: Scotland is sick **
Act 5 scene IV: Birnam wood moves
Act 5 scene V: Young Siward **
Act 5 scene VI: The ending
** these scenes can also be omitted entirely for lower ability pupils.
This resource includes a mammoth 95 slide PPT walking pupils through questions 1, 2 and 3 of the reading section of AQA’s GCSE English Language Paper 1 element, updated March 2022. There are also several links to paper 2 skills where cross-over exists, and an introductory slide to Q4. All resources referred to in the PPT are included.
The PPT was originally made for a low ability year 10/11 group, all of whom had targets of grade 4 or below, but would be suitable for middle ability with a few tweaks. Each question is broken down and formulae provided for the pupils to access what can be quite a challenging paper, with a range of reading materials reminiscent of the exam challenge. A break down of what is included can be seen below:
Exam format and AOs
Technical vocabulary / language and structure terms
A reading strategy for challenging texts
Q1-3 practice
Quotation analysis and using PEEZL to write a response to Q2
Structure discussion and using PEEW to write a response to Q3
Extracts from: Harry Potter, Of Mice and Men, Woman in Black, Dracula, The Crucible. Great Expectations
Cultural capital boost - migrant workers, American midwest, Gothic literature, witches in literature
exemplar responses for Q2 and Q3, plus scaffolded sentence stems
Quote finding and retrieval practice
Peer assessment using rough mark criteria
Extracts 2a and 2b - non-fiction cross over to migrant workers; 5a cross over to modern Gothic
How to write a good point/ what makes a good point
Exemplar responses from AQA for the Jamaica Inn practice paper (available form eAQA)
Vocabulary for writing about effect
Intro to Q4
This resource is a 90 slide PPT full scheme of work on Tom Becker’s novel ‘Darkside’, updated Jan 2022. It is suitable for middle to high ability learners in years 8-10. The novel contains some excellent descriptive language which forms great preparation for studying GCSE literary texts.
The PPT is approx 15-18 lessons, not including the reading of the novel! and all resources are included. It approaches the novel as an analytical reader but also provides opportunities to produce writing, both fiction and non-fiction, in cross-over tasks. The novel provides excellent opportunities for under-pinning context and cultural capital for Victorian novel study at GCSE.
The PPT covers the following:
-inference and predictions from cover
-diary entry writing
-language techniques/ descriptive writing strategies
-discussion of language effect plus exemplar
-presentation of key characters
-comparing characters
-creating suspense
-guided annotation
-peer assessment opportunities
-gothic conventions
links to Frankenstein
built in optional HW tasks
character analysis
PEEZL method of analysing language
finding and locating evidence
descriptive writing
settings
tension tracking
spoken language opportunity - news reports
Victorian Britain
Emotive language
tracing plot developments
Pathetic fallacy
text transformations - travel writing cross-over task
endings
Updated January 2022
Updated Feb 2022 and designed for high ability pupils (targets of grade 6-9), this resource is for the full play of Macbeth (AQA GCSE English Literature). It includes a monster PPT of 155 slides, which can be divided into MANY lessons - an absolute bargain!
This unit is designed to be studied with the whole text - the edition we used was the Cambridge school’s version. It works from zero prior knowledge of the play, but could also be used with any pupils who might have previously studied the play, in order to supplement, challenge and stretch their learning further.
This resource includes:
A range of tasks and activities on the vast majority of the play (including 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7; 2.1, 2.2, 2.4; 3.1, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6; 4.1, 4.2, 4.2; 5.1, 5.1, 5.3, 5.5, 5.8)
Any scenes not included as explicit tasks can be read with and discussed with pupils at the appropriate time as all lessons are clearly labelled for which act and scene they refer to
Any resources referenced in the PPT, including handouts and sample work from pupils
Full lesson PPT covering the majority of the play (key ideas and analysis for in lesson use)… including:
-Activities include work on character, theme, context, plot, lang/structure analysis
Practice exam questions
the opening of the play and Shakespeare’s intent
Built in homework tasks
Links to various videos to enhance learning
Snippets on tackling exam questions, with reference to mark schemes and key skills
Context links (religion, witches, James I, regicide, primogeniture, Great Chain, other plays)
Symbolism and key critical philosophy that links to the play
dramatic irony
power balances
structure
the play’s ending
Sample exam responses
Exam technique and reference to mark schemes
Updated Feb 2022 to include acts 4 and 5 plus further bonus resources and tweaks to previous lesson tasks.
This resource is for GCSE Business Studies, written by a subject specialist with advice sought from an English teacher on how to best structure this evaluate question to achieve higher marks.
17 slide PPT (around 2-3 lessons worth), focused on the following:
exam key words (evaluate)
A business case study (Shirtz Limited)
exam style evaluate question
peer and self assessment opportunities using mark scheme
varied range of exemplar responses with marks awarded
advice on planning through a table
advice on linking ideas for a stronger, more cohesive response
key connectives to help with linking ideas
a structured response handout
extension activity linked to the lesson topic (online quiz)
This resource contains 15 venn diagrams designed for practise of comparing poetry for AQA English Literature, power and conflict cluster. Each page has a question at the top (as pictured), covering every poem in the cluster.
An excellent way to promote independent work and revision of poetry, this way of comparing has been tried and tested by both myself and my department. Venn diagrams can be blown up to A3 to encourage group work, or used in circulation around the room so pupils can build on each others’ ideas.
This resource is a training session on the use of data as both a class teacher and head of department, specifically targeted at secondary school teachers. It includes a comprehensive 16 slide PPT, full of interactive questions and short tasks, designed to be used for staff training (small groups works well), and also includes an Excel resource with fabricated data to use in discussion / for some of the activities. It has been written from the perspective of a Head of English at a secondary school and was originally presented to trainee teachers. The session can last between 1-2 hours dependent on how thoroughly the slides are discussed.
The PPT goes through the following:
pivotal question - why are schools ‘obsessed’ with data?
what exactly we mean by data in a school context
brief literature review - what does pedagogical research say?
data exercise - looking at and discussing the use of different data sets (provided in an excel doc - n.b. utilises sisra style reports, excel sheets, sims data tracking and school headline figures, all fabricated and including no sensitive pupil data)
round up of discussion - suggestions for how each set of data in the packs might be used by a classroom teacher
further examples of data
a short brief on CATs, APS and Scaled scores
4 steps on using data as a classroom practitioner
key questions - why do we need to organise data and how might a class teacher organise theirs? What do you ‘do’ with data? When does it all end?
the problems with using data
Also includes a bonus PPT for a similar session completed across a MAT, with extra slides on:
using data as a primary phase lead
using data as a secondary HOD
key data uses across school
A booklet collating key scenes from Romeo and Juliet, edited to focus on the most important scenes and aspects. This booklet is suited for study at KS3, or low ability KS4.
The text is confined to the left side of the page to allow for student annotation. There is cutting of dialogue to reduce the scenes down to a more manageable amount, without hampering flow.
Key edited scenes included are:
Prologue
Act 1 scene 1 (Sampson and Gregory)
Act 1 scene 5 (party)
Act 3 scene 1 (Tyblat and Romeo brawl)
Act 3 scene 5 (Romeo and Juliet wedding night and Lord Capulet fight)
Act 5 scene 1 (the plan)
Act 5 scene 3 (tomb)
This 120 slide SoW uses a variety of fiction and non-fiction stories from around the globe as a springboard for reading and writing activities, whilst also developing cultural capital through understanding of context, themes and writers’ messages. Themes touched upon include:
race
immigration
feminism/ equality
mental health
abuse/ corruption and power
religion
war
slavery
The scheme was originally written for a year 9 group, but would also be suitable for years 8 and 10, with some slight adaptations. Links are provided to all of the stories used, which are either completely free or are free published extracts. These can be further edited as seen fit, if required.
There are also supplementary non-fiction texts, all of which are included as resources. These texts develop contextual understanding of each theme further.
The stories used are:
My Family’s Slave - Tizon
Heart of Darkness - Conrad
The Yellow Wallpaper - Gilmore
The Sisters - Joyce
The Beekeeper of Aleppo - Lefteri
The Paper Menagerie - Liu
Activities include:
understanding literary context
recognition of other cultures and traditions
understanding of Syria / war
refugees
Leaflet writing
the context of historic slavery
modern slavery
perspectives and viewpoints
comprehension/ reflection questions
language analysis
using PEEZL to respond to reading questions (point, evidence, explain, zoom, link)
features of news articles and writing news articles
AQA style non-fiction language paper 2 questions
persuasive language
religion’s impact
Ireland, Catholicism and James Joyce
Abuse of power
Articles on the church’s abuse of power (in the context of Catholic children’s homes, mid 20th century)
understanding of AQA paper 2 writing genre, purpose and audience
Speech writing
Model speech
Peer and self assessment/ improvement opportunities
Developing excellent points and links for PEEZL
Imperialism and empires / colonisation
Victorian viewpoints
Responsibility
Letter writing
Gender expectations
Autobiographical stories
Diary writing
Essay writing
Structuring paragraphs
Mixed race experiences
Argumentative writing
Scaffolding and differentiation
This resource is a full scheme of work for the novel ‘Coraline’ by Neil Gaiman. Originally written for a low ability year 8 group, it is suitable for years 7 or 8, low to mid ability. Updated Jan 2022.
There is a mammoth 93 slide PPT plus all resources included in this bundle. The PPT works through a range of activities designed to develop both reading and writing skills via cross-over creative tasks. Suggested reading chunked to go with lessons.
Topics and tasks as follows:
Pre-reading tasks (book name and cover)
expectations / predictions
characterisation
Effect of language (using the PEEZL acronym)
Example of writing about effect
Inference
Settings
Creative writing - create an ‘other’ you
Improving creative writing
Parallel world theme
formal letter writing
planning and scaffolded writing and peer assessment opportunities
comparing the two worlds
tracking tone changes
creating horror
pre-annotated extract
writing as a character (diary entry)
Use of simile / creating own similes
theme of survival
tracking Coraline’s journey
more in-depth theme investigation
writer’s messages
forming critical opinions
twisted fairy tales (investigation and creating own)
Heroines and stereotypes
quote finding
effective endings
foreshadowing
5 years later - writing a new chapter
Updated Jan 2022
This bundle includes a whopping £24.30 worth of resources on AQA conflict and power poetry for GCSE English Literature. Resource include:
1-2 full lessons on ALL of the power and conflict cluster poems:
Checking Out me History
Emigree
Bayonet Charge
Charge of the Light Brigade
Last Duchess (2 options, including a Halloween / Gothic themed lesson)
Ozymandias
Kamikaze
Exposure
London
Poppies
Storm on the Island
Prelude
Tissue
Remains
War Photographer
Each of the named lessons as above approaches the poems from zero base knowledge, adopting a pupil-centred approach, building skills of analysis rather than teacher dictation of meaning. Many of the lesson PPTs include:
group work/ discussion tasks
video links to aid analysis
language and structure focus questions or hints
exploration of meaning and ideas, with historical/ cultural context where required (building cultural capital)
exemplar paragraphs or responses
examination style questions
possibilities for cross over work to English language
full annotations for poems
Extras as following:
How to write intros and conclusions PPT (focused on Remains)
An intro to poetry PPT - what it is for/ why we study it
15 power and conflict exam questions, written into venn diagrams (worksheets)
A 30 slide PPT on comparing power and conflict poems and how to answer these questions
Mix and match key persuasive devices and their definitions. Including:
Facts
Statistics
Emotive language
Opinions
Rule of three/triple
Repetition
Personal pronouns
Imperative verbs
Rhetorical questions
Quotations
Alliteration
Hyperbole
This resource is an English Language condensed paper 1 created to replicate the style of AQA examination questions. There are more available in this series in my paid shop, alongside a bundle of 4 for a reduced cost.
The text extract is from Orwell’s Animal Farm. The text also has a context blurb at the top and is formatted with line numbers to replicate exam text extracts.
All questions are included (Q1-5) worded to replicate AQA style.
The paper is condensed which means there are no lines for writing - it spans 2 sides in total for cost effective printing.
Perfect for tutoring, exam revision, mock exams, walking-talking mocks or in class study.