A Paper 2 Question 5 focused lesson that asks students to give their views on the idea of teenagers completing compulsory national service. Students read two sample responses - one primarily agrees with the statement and one primarily agrees. Then students complete their own response using the structure provided. Extra time is spent looking at how to start off the article in a way that garners an emotional connection with the reader.

A fun end of term spaced learning activity for the end of Year 10 (that could tie in with the Euros) which asks students to select an English literature starting 11. Depending on the combination of texts they have already studied, they might put Scrooge in goal because he doesn’t give anything away or perhaps Lady Macbeth in central midfield because of her ability to dictate play. Students have to justify their positional selections based on their knowledge of the characters. It is a useful activity for promoting conversations between the students about the texts and poems they have studied.

A high level response on the character of Mrs Birling. Also includes various support sheets and worksheets for analysing the character of Mrs Birling in depth.

2 model narratives about a disagreement and 2 model descriptions about a very hot place. They have all been written deliberately to try and meet the AQA assessment objectives. Both the descriptions and the narratives employ the drop, shift, method, leave structure and include an object as a motif while also including a single sentence paragraph after every long paragraph to further demonstrate how the responses have been deliberately crafted and structured for effect. Ambitious vocabulary is sustained and advanced punctuation is used for effect.

An exam walkthrough suitable for a walking talking mock style lesson that systematically goes through how to answer every question on the AQA Language Paper 1 2023 exam where the featured extract was from Life of Pi. Also includes some sample model answers.

A model answer to the May 2024 AQA Power and Conflict Question. This response compares Kamikaze and Remains. Conceptual paragraph 1 explores how conflict dehumanises soldiers in both poems. Conceptual paragraph 2 explores how conflict leads to internal struggles for the soldiers. Conceptual paragraph 3 explores the debilitating nature of survivor’s guilt and shame. Quotations and poetic are analysed in thoughtful ways in each paragraph with a clear focus on authorial methods.

3 different A Christmas Carol model responses exploring how Scrooge learns important life lessons across the novella. A similar type of question came up in the AQA May 2024 examination. I included 3 different responses so it can be used to show different ways of approaching the question. One response for example, analyses how each ghost imparts important life lessons to Scrooge. Another response explores how Fred, Fezziwig, Tiny Tim and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come all act as mentors in facilitating Scrooge’s transformation. They have been written to meet the requirements for Band 5 and 6 on the mark scheme because they are consistently thoughtful with moments that could one could argue are perceptive in the way they meet the AOs… They may be useful for departmental moderation or for students considering about different ways of structuring their examination responses.

A high level response exploring the significance of the island in Lord of the Flies.

High level response for exploring the significance of The Beast in Lord of the Flies.

High level model answers for questions 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the following 3 exam series: Summer 2022 - The Pearl November 2022 - The Old Man and the Sea June 2023 - Life of Pi Ideal revision for Paper 1 in 2024. Extracts are available on the AQA website.

This 11 page booklet contains detailed model answers for questions 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the summer 2022 AQA Paper 1 English language exam which featured an extract from The Pearl by John Steinbeck. I go through each question in detail providing a range of possible ways of approaching the question to meet the marking criteria. For question 5 there are 4 different high level responses based on a life-saving rescue to compare.

A knowledge organiser looking at how every poem in the Power and Conflict anthology can be compared to Exposure. Exposure is a key poem to revise because it links to many themes: power of nature, human power(lessness), loss of identity, conflict with identity, power of a place. Contains 14 high level comparative paragraphs comparing a key quotation from Exposure and another poem to provide an example of how to make a thoughtful and perceptive conceptual comparison. Also contains a revision sheet looking solely at the key quotations in Exposure with detailed analysis linked to the AOs.

A lesson revising the big ideas in each poem and the 2 key quotations in each poem. Ideal as a final revision lesson or lessons before the exam. For each poem, students are presented with 3 thesis statements about the authorial message in each poem. Students discuss and rank order the most valid interpretations. Then students move on analyse the 2 key quotations in every poem before comparing their ideas against the model answers. Also contains a 15 page revision booklet on the poems with detailed analysis on every poem and knowledge organisers.

A detailed lesson and revision resource asking students to explore multiple interpretations of the main characters and themes in the play. Students explore and examine 3 symbolic interpretations of each character or theme and discuss which is the most valid interpretation of the text. Exploring multiple interpretations is a method for enabling students to reach Bands 5 and 6 on the markscheme. Ideal as a final revision lesson in the run up to the exam.

Ideal as a final lesson in the run up to the exam, this lesson is aimed at teaching students to explore multiple interpretations of each of the 12 main characters in A Christmas Carol. Students are given the blank template and are encouraged to think of 3 things each character symbolises or represents. Then go through the PowerPoint asking students to consider which is the most valid interpretation for each character. Students are also encouraged to think about and select the most analysable quotation for each character to allow opportunities for thoughtful and perceptive comment. Finish by giving the students to A3 revision guide as a revision takeaway.

A lesson that revises 3 key big ideas related to power and/or conflict in each poem from the anthology. Students then move to analyse how these big ideas are explored in 2 key quotations from each poem. Suggested answers for both tasks are included. My most comprehensive resource on Power and Conflict poetry is available here with revision posters on every poem: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/power-and-conflict-revision-sheets-12884928

A lesson that encourages students to explore multiple interpretations of the thems and characters in Lord of the Flies to help reach bands 5 and 6 for A03. Students come up with their own 3 theories then compare them to mine before discussing which is the most valid perspective on the text.

A timeline charting Shakespeare’s use of the motif of blood across the play.

A timeline revision activity for A Christmas Carol that asks students to offer 3 layers of analysis for 13 key Scrooge quotations to help track his transformation in the novel from a solitary miser to a redeemed philanthropist. A01: What is the meaning of the quotation? A02: What is the impact of words/methods? A03: What is Dickens’ message in this quotation? Comprehensive answer sheet is included. I give this out at the end of the lesson so students can compare their answers to it. Ideal revision activity in the run up to the May examinations. Also contains a similar timeline focused on the life lessons Scrooge learns across the novel to support the AQA May 2024 style question.