AQA

West Side Sociology

I’ve always been interested in the dynamics of street gangs partly because when I was a young lad growing up in Hull in the 1960s I belonged to one. Well, at least my peers regarded it as a gang. However, the gang I belonged to – the… Read More

AQA GCSE Sociology: new specification, a sensible approach to change

So we have reached that time of year again, the year 11s have finally realised how important the exams are that teachers have been going on about for eternity, we can finally enjoy a sunny drive to work, we are even getting home to catch the last of the sunshine… Read More

We’re in here for the long haul

One of the issues that’s exercising quite a few minds in science education at the moment is how to cover the content in the new GCSE specifications in the time available. Many people are, very understandably, flipping through not only the amount but thinking about the depth of the material… Read More

Top four barriers to mastering AQA English Language, Paper 2, Question 4: Comparing the Writers’ Methods

By Naomi Hursthouse Question 4 on both the language papers is designed to catch students out. It is assumed that some just won’t have the staying power to get to it, and other won’t be able to handle it. And it certainly did catch our students out on… Read More

Using Pictures to Teach Descriptive Writing and Structural Analysis Skills

A great post on how to make skill development more engaging by using pictures, by guest blogger and teacher Alexandra O'Connor. Read More

Improving analysis of writing

I don’t know about you, but I have found the AQA English Language, Paper 1, Question 3- commenting on the structure of a text- mighty troublesome this year! As much as I try to help students identify shifts in time, character, location, and find interesting patterns,… Read More

GCSE Science: Preparing for the new practical assessment

Ed Walsh discusses the importance of developing practical skills in preparing for the new practical assessment. Read More

Secondary Business – A Level AQA Pre-release task

Mergers & Takeovers – AQA Pre-release research task Download the pre-released task here, for the June 2012 and January 2013 Unit 4 paper: http://store.aqa.org.uk/qual/gce/pdf/AQA-BUSS4PM-W-QP-JUN12-JAN13.PDF The unit 4 exam is based on a pre-release case study and it is always a challenge to get student involved, one of the ways… Read More

Secondary English – The Language of Metaphor

Teaching the language of metaphor can be a real hurdle, even with the most able students. Sometimes we can forget that in an average day, our students have had four or five blocks of learning in subjects where content tends to drive the curriculum – when they arrive at their… Read More

Secondary Business – Revision for Unit 3

In order for students to do well on the AQA Unit 3 exam, they need to be able to apply their knowledge and theory from the course to the business that they are given in the exam case study. One of the challenges is actually getting them to… Read More