Macbeth: Weaker Learner Support Pack for GCSE

Set text for: AQA | Edexcel | OCR | Eduqas
  • Aim 1 – Engage weaker learners with the text
    Characters speak directly to students to summarise the plot before and after reading the play.

  • This is a top resource... The worksheets are brilliant

    S Owen, English Teacher & Peer Reviewer
  • Aim 2 – Support their understanding of key literary aspects
    Worksheets include stimulating and well-pitched activities to engage students with main events, all key characters, major themes, form and structural features, and language. Plus a PowerPoint presentation exploring key contextual points.

  • Plus!

    • Full answers
    • Original illustrations
  • Aim 3 – Consolidate their knowledge ready for the exam
    All activities are cross-referenced to GCSE AOs so that you can choose the right worksheet for your students regardless of exam board.

Targeted at those students who like English but find it difficult, and those who are indifferent.

What do teachers say about this resource? (6495)

This is a top resource. I wish I'd written it! Finding ways to make the challenge of Shakespeare more accessible to pupils is an excellent idea. This resource doesn’t patronise either! It discusses a full range of material... The worksheets are brilliant – so varied but closely focused... I really like the way the AOs have been presented... Each task is also marked with its main AO, so pupils know what they are doing and why... The revising the key events section with questions which resemble language-based questions is absolutely brilliant! Massive thanks for providing the answers too – useful as peer or self-marking tools, and saves me a whole bunch of time!

S Owen, English Teacher & Peer Reviewer

An excellent resource... Allows pupils to build up a comprehensive working knowledge of the text... as they work through the scheme. The resource provides a wide range of materials to select from... The sheets are varied and will interest pupils with all learning styles. The different ways of presenting information are excellent. It is also comprehensive and adaptable... The ease with which AOs can be identified is superb.

S Freeburn, English Teacher & Peer Reviewer

Excellent and extremely useful for weaker GCSE students or Year 9/10. It is accessible and easy to read... It is excellent for knowledge of the plot of Macbeth with vocabulary extension sections so that knowledge and vocabulary can be consolidated. Good that it gives some examples for weaker students to follow. The language analysis of each scene is very useful... This pitches at a good level without 'talking down' to weaker students [and] is detailed enough to stretch lower ability... The answers are very helpful... I think it is excellent and would use it for teaching.

S & S Fallon, English Teachers & Peer Reviewers

Full support for students at the lower end of the ability range. It will support them in being able to access higher marks through support in the language and structure tasks in particular... Useful references throughout to AOs in task headings... I've taught Macbeth at KS3 and for GCSE many times over the last 20 years and would happily use this resource... Great support for lower-ability groups.

S Comley, English Teacher & Peer Reviewer

A welcome resource – it is friendly, and makes Shakespeare accessible and attractive to lower-ability students... The resource presents Macbeth in manageable chunks, unravelling the mysteries of Shakespeare in a welcoming, unfussy way that should not alienate even the most reluctant student. I like the light touch employed, especially when introducing some quite tricky concepts, such as the idea of protagonist/antagonist... Educationally, the range of terms and ideas presented is impressive. It is quietly done, and would give students a solid platform for understanding a lifetime’s Shakespeare... Students should greatly enjoy using this approachable resource.

J Redley, English Teacher & Peer Reviewer

I really like this resource as it provides a good range of activities as well as information for weaker learners. It is engaging in terms of its language style and some of the differentiated tasks, such as those which gives students the option to either draw or write their response... Such activities will engage all types of learners. I like the personal and conversational approach... I also like the range of differentiated activities and an explanation of the AOs in student-friendly language... This resource is very detailed and informative. The continuous references to the AOs help you feel that you are on track and that everything you are teaching is relevant to the specification... It helps to break down challenging ideas/themes for students, particularly those who struggle to understand Shakespeare's language or his plays in general. It will certainly give weaker students the chance to engage with Shakespeare's work on an intellectual level without finding the tasks patronising... It is detailed, fun and creative.

H Begum, English Teacher & Peer Reviewer