I’m a big fan of Charlotte Bronte so this is one of my favourite Paper 2s; via her diary we learn about her hatred for teaching (we’ve all been there, Charlotte). It contrasts with a piece from The Guardian about a student teacher full of enthusiasm for teaching. I’ve included the Word and PDF document so you can tinker with it if you want to, and I’ve put the GCSE boundaries for 2017 and 2018 on the front so that students can see how far away they were from the next grade. Please have a look at my paid resources. The ‘Easy GCSE Mark Scheme’ works very well with this for quick and efficient marking.

Here’s an AQA Language Paper 2 on the theme of Refuse Collectors using an extract from Henry Mayhew and The Guardian. Please take a look at my ‘Easy Assessment Sheets’ for GCSE Language. Hope you find this resource useful. It would be great if you could let me know any feedback. Best wishes, Lindsey

This assessment effectively bridges the KS2 and KS4 styles of questions and averts the Year 7/8 dip. Did you know, for example, that KS2 students are not required to comment on the effect of language or structure in their SATs tests? Nor are they required to evaluate texts. It is therefore unsurprising that students often perform badly in KS3 tests that are based solely on GCSE papers. My assessment paper takes elements of the KS2 paper that students are familiar with and works in aspects of the KS4 paper at an appropriate level. The grade boundaries are on the front of the paper and have been based upon 2017 threshold levels (AQA). This is one of the first of a set papers that aims to encourage students to become increasingly independent through their secondary school career and has been designed through a careful investigation into KS2 papers and an in-depth knowledge of GCSE papers. Please follow me if you find this useful and keep a look out for future bundles of assessment papers. Copyright acknowledgement to the author of this extract, who has circulated this first chapter as a free resource. Please do bu her book if you enjoy it.

Simplified mark schemes based on the on-screen drag and drop comments on the AQA Examiner marking software. These much reduced mark schemes help teachers to understand exactly what the examiner is look for, can streamline marking and planning and can be modified to give feedback to students by simply highlighting their areas of competence. A valuable resource.

A lesson that identifies and explores foreshadowing, followed by an opportunity to read a class text and look for examples of foreshadowing. The final task is differentiated and links closely to the demands of the new GCSE spec, so would be useful for both KS3 and KS4. The lesson is concluded with a reflection activity. This lesson is part of a 12 lesson bundle for sale on TES at https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/class-reader-generic-lessons-x-12-bundle-set-1-analysing-the-author-s-craft-11347361 The current TES system won't allow thumbnails of the Powerpoints, but all of the lessons are of this standard.

A paper that looks at a Guardian report of a recent peaceful gathering of crowds to protest about pollution and a description of attending a hanging by Charles Dickens. Very topical in light of yesterday’s march the People’s Vote and news footage could be viewed to give students some context and to engage the in an initial debate.

Twelve completely differentiated and resourced lessons that cover the skills and knowledge required for the new style GCSE and are suitable for students at any secondary level and for any class reader. They include aims and objectives that are drawn directly from the new GCSE specifications and have a choice of three tasks for each lesson according to ability, followed by a reflection activity. These PowerPoint led lessons are completely ready to go and need no further work, leaving you with nothing to plan for twelve lessons at least - then the resources could easily be adapted to allow the unit to incorporate more investigation, analysis and application of the devices covered using the existing slides as a template for further lessons. These are also ideal observation lessons. The lessons explore a range of word, sentence and structural devices, allowing students to explore the device and then spot this in their own class reader, completing a task appropriate to their level after each reading. A free sample lesson from the pack is available at https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/foreshadowing-lesson-link-to-any-text-11347750 The following devices and skills are covered: Social and Historical Context Investigations (x2) Identifying Foreshadowing and Effect Identifying Narrative Hooks Narrative Hooks in Practice Sentence Structures Relative Clauses Commenting upon Relative Clauses and Sentence Lengths Identifying Onomatopoeia Onomatopoeia in Practice Identifying and Using Plosives Identifying Anaphora

A sound understanding of the social and historical context of A Christmas Carol is essential to gaining higher grades at GCSE. The new specifications demand that students see the play as a 'construct' and thus need to understand the intended message of the text and the influences upon the author at the time. With this knowledge, students are then able to consider the authorial choices as they read the text. I would advise working through this presentation at the start of the unit and revisiting it after reading the entire text. The presentation can be spread over two lessons.

A sound understanding of social and historical context is essential for a Grade 4 and above in the current English Literature specifications. It is imperative that students learn the intended message of the playwright or author of the text and the influences upon them at the time of writing. Being able to explain these features in relation to the text will place students within the higher bands of the GCSE mark scheme. This lesson directs children to consider the influences upon J B Priestley and the messages he intends to convey to his audience in An Inspector Calls. It can be taught at any point of the unit and is ideally repeated after reading the novel, as students will be able to link the images more readily to events and quotes in the play. The Powerpoint of statements are conclusions that the students will be coming to at the end of the lesson and can be displayed as starters in later lessons, asking students to brainstorm quotes and events which support the given point. The Powerpoint of images can also be used in a similar way, or as a display where students add quotes as they read the play. 1. Arrange the tables in the classroom as six workstations (six groups of tables). Print out the resources and place each set on a different table with the relevant heading. You might want to add a laptop that is set up to one of the websites on the links provided. 2. Arrange students in six groups of four or five and give each student an overview sheet. Point out that if they have not yet read the play they will not be able to fill in the quotes and events thought bubble, but can add to this later. 3. Allow students 5-6 minutes per workstation with the aim of completing the overview sheet. 4. At the end, ask each table to feedback about the subject covered at the table they are seated at. 5. Ask each student to write a message that Priestley was trying to convey on a Post-It and stick onto the wall. This will form the 'Student Comments' for later use.

GCSE Language style paper for the fight scene of Of Mice and Men. This assessment is designed for all abilities, though it also supports KS3 or lower ability students to understand how to answer the new GCSE style questions. It could also be used a support document or walk-through, with students answering the questions without a guide in their books. Threshold levels are included on the first page.

This unit asks students to exercise their Literacy skills and plan a festival. They are required to write a letter to apply for the job, write a report, design logos and band profiles, design posters and respond to a complaint. This is an engaging collection of resources that would be ideal for Summer 2 or in a situation where students benefit from working on a 'real' task.

This fully differentiated lesson, with support and challenge sheets, teaches students how to identify and employ onomatopoeia.

This fully differentiated lesson teaches students how to identify, explore the effect of and employ plosives.

Lesson 1 of a fully differentiated Creative Writing unit. This lesson (differentiated and includes support and challenge sheets) covers describing a character using picture prompts.

This fully differentiated lesson teaches students to identify, explore the effect of and employ sibilance.

This lesson asks students to create their own spinner to use in future creative writing lessons. The spinner would be best printed on card.

This lesson explores narrative hooks and how to use them in creative writing. It has a set of lower and higher ability cards for sorting.

This lesson teaches students about anaphora through identification in examples and exploration of the effect. The tasks are fully differentiated to bronze, silver and gold levels, with support and challenge sheets included.

A fully differentiated lesson (bronze, silver and gold) that teaches how to describe a character using similes. Included are examples and support and challenge sheets.