Key Stage 3, GCSE and A Level History resources available for purchase and download.
New Focus Education offer resources from a teacher with 10 years teaching experience, a track record of excellent outcomes and experience of leadership at several levels.
The main focus is AQA 8145 and AQA A Level, with key stage three resources available with GCSE skills and requirements embedded throughout.
Key Stage 3, GCSE and A Level History resources available for purchase and download.
New Focus Education offer resources from a teacher with 10 years teaching experience, a track record of excellent outcomes and experience of leadership at several levels.
The main focus is AQA 8145 and AQA A Level, with key stage three resources available with GCSE skills and requirements embedded throughout.
A model answer to a sample question for the AQA 2024 HE on Drake’s Circumnavigation of the Globe 1577-1580. The answer explores several factors to address the question: “The main result of journeys of exploration was the increase in the wealth and power of Elizabethan England”. How far does the study of Drake’s circumnavigation support this statement? You should refer to Drake’s circumnavigation and your contextual knowledge (16 marks)
Model answer for specimen paper question: ‘The main change that manor houses demonstrated was the greater prosperity of their owner’. How far does a study of Hardwick Hall show this?
Full pack containing all lessons on Hardwick Hall including: An introduction to features of Elizabethan manor houses, who Bess of Hardwick was and how she could build Hardwick, features of Hardwick, what changes in England Hardwick demonstrates and essay planning lesson. A revision lesson (pre-exam) is also included, along with a model answer for the 16-mark response and a knowledge organiser for Hardwick Hall.
Complete resource pack containing 7 full lessons on Drake’s Circumnavigation 1577-1580 (2024 AQA Historic environment pack for Elizabethan England).
The pack includes an overview lesson on why voyages of exploration increased in this period, linking in different explorers, a lesson focusing on Drake’s motivations for the circumnavigation, a lesson exploring the chronology and events of the circumnavigation, a lesson focusing on the impacts of the circumnavigation linking to the following lesson analysing the relative success of the circumnavigation, a thematic study of Drake’s circumnavigation using the AQA source booklet and an essay-planning lesson focused on the assessment requirements of the 16-mark historic environment question.
The bundle also includes a knowledge organiser covering all key aspects of the 7-series lessons and a model answer linked to the 16-mark HE question.
A knowledge organiser summarising the key content required as part of the AQA 2024 Historic Environment study of Drake’s Circumnavigation 1577-1580. It covers, who Drake was, why he embarked on the journey, key events, benefits and dangers, impact and overall success, alongside tips on how to approach the question
A workbook that reviews the key content required for the 2025 Historic Environment study on Hardwick Hall. The booklet covers why manor houses were built, who Bess of Hardwick was, typical features of manor houses, how Hardwick Hall was and was not a typical manor house, changes reflected by Hardwick and essay planning.
A collection of resources allowing students to practice the different question styles for Elizabeth 8145. The resources model the structures, allowing opportunities for students to practice on a variety of sample questions.
Picture starter, recap on 1920s and 30s society, carousel activity exploring aspects such as cinema, advertising, rock and roll music, application of knowledge in an 8 mark "in what ways were" question and an interpretation plenary.
Model answer to question attached - used as a starter in the following lesson.
Exploration of key impacts of the Wall Street Crash in the USA (collapse of business, unemployment, homelessness and collapse of farming) - pupils can create an A3 symbol poster (no more than 10 words to explain each section) using the hand outs - this could be invdividual or a gorup activity. Judgement at the end regarding the most significant effect.
Model answer for the 2019 historic environment question for AQA 8145 Elizabethan England on the Globe. The answer explains several factors, focusing on how the Globe shows changes in society using features of the site and wider evidence. Useful for revision, essay planning and in-class assessment.
This lesson explores the role of John Rawls in liberal thought.
The lesson begins with a recap of Thomas Hill Green (previous homework), leading to a video of John Rawls’ background and contribution to liberal thought. A guided reading explores Rawls’ background, leading to exploration of Rawls’ ideas in the Lib Dem 2024 manifesto/Biden’s Health reforms (2021). Finally, students explore the similarities and differences of Rawls’ theories to socialism.
Booklet for students to review the key content needed for the 2024 Historic Environment on Drake’s circumnavigation.
Includes essay practice, recap knowledge and focus on themes of change, impact and success.
Lesson 5 in the Hardwick Hall 2025 Historic Environment learning sequence.
This lesson focuses on application of knowledge of Hardwick Hall to the 16-mark essay on the Elizabethan paper. The lesson begins with a recap of the changes in the period demonstrated by Hardwick, leading to a paired retrieval task reviewing the key features of Hardwick. Students then explore the 16-mark essay criteria and then apply their learning to a plan for the following question: “The main change that Elizabethan manor houses demonstrated was the greater prosperity of their owners”. How far does a study of Hardwick Hall support this statement? You should refer to Hardwick Hall and your contextual knowledge. (16 marks).
Students then explore a WAGOLL paragraph and assess the strengths and weaknesses of this. A model answer for this question is included in the bundle pack.
Lesson 4 in the Hardwick Hall 2025 Historic Environment learning sequence.
This lesson focuses on what Hardwick Hall can show about changes in the Elizabethan period. The lesson begins with a knowledge recall of Hardwick Hall, moving on to a carousel source activity where students use sources to explain key changes in England that Hardwick demonstrates (fashions, wealth, support for Elizabeth, rise of Gentry and new architectural styles. Students then explain what Hardwick Hall can show about Elizabethan England, explaining why Hardwick can be seen as a symbol of Elizabeth’s reign.
L3 in the 2024 Historic Environment series on The Americas and Drake’s circumnavigation, 1577-1580.
This lesson explores the key chronological events of the circumnavigation and the benefits and dangers faced across the voyage. The lesson begins with a recap of the motivating factors in undertaking such a voyage, leading to a video exploring the circumnavigation and the events, benefits and dangers. Students complete the notes table as they watch. Students then annotate their A3 map, using the hand out to detail what happened at each stage - optional colour-coding re. benefits and negatives at this stage - building a chornological picture of the voyage. Using their map and the hand out students then create a table showing the benefits and dangers of this voyage. Finally, students then assess HOW successful they think the circumnavigation was considering their learning so far.
L2 in the 2024 Historic Environment series on The Americas and Drake’s circumnavigation, 1577-1580.
This lesson begins with a recap of knowledge about Francis Drake, leading into a video that introduces John Hawkins’ role in the slave trade. Students then explore how Hawkins’ role in influencing Drake in undertaking future voyages. The main activity focuses on exploring the 6 main motivating factors for Drake in undertaking his 1577 voyage, with students assessing the strengths and weaknesses of each, leading to a judgement on the main factors that influenced Drake. The plenary sets up the following lesson with students considering the benefits and dangers to sailors in undertaking such a lengthy voyage.
Lesson exploring how slaves resisted on plantations. Inference starter, two layers of inference sources linked to utility, card sort categorising passive and active resistance leading to an explanation judgement regarding the most successful forms of resistance.
*Eleventh lesson in the scheme - how the Normans changed England *
Lesson exploring the extent of change brought to medieval England under the Normans. Video starter introduces the key changes made, paired card sort - change and continuity leads to completion of Venn diagram (attached at end of PPT), judgement on the most significant change, summary answer to how far the Normans changed England, plenary reviewing different groups in society and how far their lives changed.
NB: Assessment GCSE write an account question plan attached for completion next lesson
A resource focusing on reviewing key individuals/topics/concepts from AQA 8145 Elizabethan England unit. Pupils match up three key words to write on their whiteboards and explain the link between them. Pupils must match up as many as possible. Challenge question included.
