I wrote this 5 week scheme of work for my GCSE English group. They were struggling with narrative writing and so I wanted to inspire with them with some effective short story writing. So who better than the master of the macabre - Roald Dahl? In this series of lessons students read a range of his stories and many of the tasks are linked to revising key skills that will be used in their Language exams. Included here are the Week 1 lessons. There is a PowerPoint presentation to guide students (and teachers) through all of the activities. This week’s lessons uses Dahl’s story Lamb to the Slaughter. and covers language skills for Paper 1 Q1 and Paper 2 Q5 (persuasive writing). A copy of the story is included as well as an overview of the whole unit of work. This is a free resource, additional weeks, along with the stories, can be purchased separately or as part of a bundle.

This PowerPoint presentation guides students through a practice paper for questions 1 to 4 of the Paper 2 Language examination. It explores writers' views and perspectives regarding being on a sinking ship. Source A is How to Survive a sinking ship, Source B is an eye witness account of a shipwreck. Presentation includes all answers. Student question booklet also included.

This is part 1 of a 5 week unit of work preparing students for their AQA Paper 2 English Language exam. A PowerPoint guiding teachers (and students) through all the activities is included as are all the handouts of extracts referred to. In this week students are introduced to the requirements for questions 1 and 2. The lessons include: a brief introduction to the exam; Development of Question 1 skills using extracts from ‘Toast’, ‘Cider with Rosie’ and an article from The Guardian; Development of Question 2 skills using extracts from ‘Newgate Gaol’ and the ‘Diary of a Modern Prisoner’; Further development of Question 2 skills using extracts from ‘London Labour and the London Poor’ and ‘Inside the supermarkets’ dark stores’; Further development of Question 1 skills based on ‘Newgate Gaol’ and ‘Inside the dark stores’. An overview of the whole Unit of Work is included. Week 1 is a free resource and subsequent weeks can be purchased separately or are available as a bundle.

This is the final part of a 5 week unit of work preparing students for their AQA Paper 2 English Language exam. A PowerPoint guiding teachers (and students) through all the activities is included as are all the handouts referred to. In this week students develop their skills for Qu 5. The lessons include: Planning an article for a newspaper exploring the issue of homelessness; Additional assessment questions linking to earlier papers in the unit. An overview of the whole Unit of Work is included in the Week 1 resources which is available as a free resource. Other weeks can be purchased separately or are available as a bundle.

This is part 1 of a 5 week unit of work preparing students for their AQA Paper 1 English Language exam. A PowerPoint guiding teachers (and students) through all the activities is included as are all the handouts of extracts referred to. In this week students are introduced to the requirements for questions 1 and 2. The lessons include: a brief introduction to the exam; Development of Question 1 skills using extracts from ‘King of the Castle’, and 'Old Mali and the Boy; Development of Question 2 skills including a Language Features ‘card sort’ activity and analysis of language using extracts from ‘King of the Castle’ and ‘The Insult’; An overview of the whole Unit of Work is included. Week 1 is a free resource and subsequent weeks can be purchased separately or are available as a bundle.