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.
Lessons three and four in the series of lessons focusing on Kenilworth Castle - the historic environment study 2021
The lesson focuses on the how Dudley used Kenilworth and the developments he made to ‘win over’ Elizabeth.
The lesson starts with a video reviewing the learning on Kenilworth so far, leading to another video which explores Elizabeth’s preferences for Dudley. Students then complete the data capture sheet in a carousel task assessing how Dudley used aspects of Kenilworth to appeal to Elizabeth (e.g. the gardens). Students then explain how Dudley tried to use Kenilworth to gain Elizabeth’s hand in marriage, moving on to a group debate about why Dudley failed to win over Elizabeth. This leads to a judgement line plenary assessing if regardless what Dudley did to Kenilworth, would Elizabeth have always rejected him. This sets up the next lesson - other motivations for Dudley’s changes to Kenilworth.
Lesson two in the series of lessons focusing on Kenilworth Castle - the historic environment study 2021
The lesson focuses on the changes Dudley made to Kenilworth.
The lesson starts with a comparison of 14th and 16th century Kenilworth with students identifying the changes they can see, leading to consideration of why these changes would be made. Using the hand out students complete the table assessing what specific changes were made (e.g. the gardens, gatehouse), thinking about which aspect Dudley changed the most. Students then explain why Dudley made these changes, choosing which they think was the most significant and why. Finally a 3,2,1 plenary recaps key content from the historic environment site.
Lesson one in the series of lessons focusing on Kenilworth Castle - the historic environment study 2021
The lesson focuses on the role Dudley played in Elizabeth’s life, introducing Kenilworth.
The lesson starts with a recap of prior knowledge of Dudley from the ‘marriage’ lesson. Using the hand out students create a living graph showing how the relationship between Dudley and Elizabeth developed over time. Students then assess how their relationship would have been viewed by groups such as the royal court, privy council etc. leading to a ‘write an account’ question on the role Dudley played in Elizabeth’s life. The plenary assesses how far Dudley and Elizabeth came to marrying through a continuum.
4 pack of resources focusing on the three key aspects of Elizabethan England and specific focus on the Spanish Armada historic environment 2020 study. Useful for revision in class, starters/plenaries or knowledge retrieval homework.
4 pack of resources focusing on the key time periods: Medieval, Renaissance and early modern, 19th century and modern. Useful for revision in class, starters/plenaries or knowledge retrieval homework.
3 pack of resources focusing on the three areas of study within Conflict and Tension in Asia 1950-75. Useful for revision in class, starters/plenaries or homework knowledge retrieval.
Lesson reviewing the position of Britain under New Labour by 2007
The lesson starts with a video exploring the rise and fall of New Labour, allowing students to assess the key positives and negatives under Blair. Students then complete one aspect of the review table, leading to a snowball task where students teach each other. Students then use the completed table to assess the greatest successes and failures for New Labour, leading to a plenary assessing the overall impact of New Labour on Britain by 2007.
Two lesson sequence exploring the development of the ‘special relationship’ under Blair and Britain’s involvement in the ‘War on Terror’
The lesson starts with a recap of what the special relationship was like by 1997, leading to assessment on how Tony Blair would change/develop this based on his ideology/leadership style. Using the hand out students list similarities and differences of the relationship under Blair, moving to analysis of a source on the ‘Blair Doctrine’ using the TEACUP frame. A clip allows students to assess how events in Yugoslavia and Sierra Leone gave Blair confidence, leading to assessment of the changes that 9/11 brought to British foreign policy. Students then categorise why the invasion of Iraq occurred, moving to assessing why the invasion of Iraq was/is so controversial. Students then analyse a source from 2006 to consider how foreign policy developed under Blair, leading a table analsying how Britain’s position in the world had changed by 2007.
Lesson exploring the relationship with Europe under Blair and New Labour.
The lesson starts with a recap of the relationship under Thatcher/Major, leading to a clip allowing students to assess how Tony Blair would change this relationship based on his ideology/leadership style. Students then analyse the aims of British foreign policy using a Robin Cook source, moving on to assessing how Britain’s role in Europe became more positive/tensions continued. A plenary assesses what factors continued to inhibit Britain’s relationship with Europe in this period, focusing on long and short term issues.
Two lesson sequence exploring the extent of multiculturalism in Britain by 2007.
The lesson starts with a video focusing on the legacy of the murder of Stephen Lawrence, asking students what they can infer about equality in the 1990s. Using the first side of the hand out students create a table showing progress/tensions re. integration, leading on to a report on the 7/7 bombings and the impact. A clip of a speech by David Cameron promotes discussion around the idea that ‘multiculturalism’ was dead by this point. Students then categorise the responses to the 7/7 bombings into positive and negative, focusing on the long term impact on race relations. A judgement line plenary allows students to show the extent of their agreement to the idea that Britain was a muticultural society by 2007, leading to a 10 mark source practice homework question on community relations.
Lesson exploring the impact of New Labour on workers, women and the youth 1997-2007.
The lesson starts with analysis of New Labour’s impact on society using a source focusing on value and limitations. Students then use a video and hand out to categorise successes and failures of Labour policies on workers, women and the youth. Using this information students create a mind map on progress in society for these three groups assessing which groups experienced the largest change and why. This leads to judgement activity assessing the extent of progress on the key social groups.
Two lesson sequence exploring the Conservatives in the period of New Labour. The lesson starts using a source to explore the issues facing the Conservatives in 1997, this then leads to students in groups analysing one conservative leader (Hague, Duncan-Smith, Howard and Cameron) to snowball this back to the rest of the group. Students then rank the cards in terms of significance as to why the Conservatives were divided in this period, linking this to policy issues causing division. Students then create a spider diagram showing why the Conservatives lost the 2001 and 2005 elections, categorising them into similarities of reasons for defeat (linked to 1997). Students then revisit the starter source and annotate around it how the Conservatives did and did not solve the issues identified by 2005. Students then complete the 10 minute essay plan (‘The Conservatives elected the wrong people to lead it between 1997 and 2005’. Assess the validity of this view) to write up at home.
Lesson outlining the causes and impact of the Good Friday Agreement.
The lessons starts by reviewing the Downing Street Declaration and linking it to wha it was like in northern Ireland by 1997. Pupils then use the hand out to underline and annotate why there was a good chance that peace could be achieved in 1997. A video then outlines the Good Friday Agreement with a focus on the positives and negatives of this. Using the video and hand out students then explore the disagreements that emerged after the GFA. Students then bring their learning together and list the main reasons for the success of the peace process in Northern Ireland. A summary timeline is completed for homework outlining the key aspects of Northern Ireland from 1960, categorised into successes and failures.
Lesson analysing the successes and failures of Labour’s economic and domestic policies. The lesson starts with a headline from a newspaper in 2005 showing dissatisfaction with Labour. Students then highlight successes and failures of domestic policies and then link to the 5 key pledges made in 1997. Students than annotate a source from Gordon Brown and pick out the economic ideals of New Labour. Students then create a spider diagram picking out economic successes of New Labour leading to a judgement analysing the argument that the British economy was performing well 1997-2007. Students then practice the document question with a 10 mark source response for homework.
Lesson exploring the constitutional change enacted by the Labour Party after 1997. The lesson starts with images outlining key areas of constitutional change wanted by the Labour Party. This leads on to a video explaining devolution for Scotland and Wales, moving to students exploring the three key areas of change (devolution, reforms to parliament and citizens rights) in a snowball activity. Students then analyse the successes and failures of the reforms and the long and short term impacts, building to students linking back to New Labour promises and comparing how far constitutional changes met these promises.
Lesson exploring the ideology of Blair and New Labour.
The starter recaps prior learning of why Labour won the 1997 election, leading to a video clip showing Blair on the eve of election victory. Students then analyse a source to find the meaning, exploring what Blair is trying to convey about New Labour. Pupils then analyse the 1997 election manifesto in pairs, assessing why New Labour appealed to the public. A final clip explores Blair’s reaction to the death of Princess Diana and why this appealed to the public. The plenary asks students to explain to their partner what the ‘third way’ was and successes and limitations of this.