The aim of this lesson is to investigate how Elizabeth I governed England and assess how she used the Court, Privy Council and Parliament to strengthen her authority in the early years of her reign.

Students begin by exploring the structure of Elizabethan government, investigating where power really lay in Tudor England. Through a text-mapping activity, they identify the key institutions of government, including the Privy Council, Parliament, Royal Court and local government, before considering why Elizabeth carefully chose the people she trusted most.

The lesson then examines the roles and significance of Elizabeth’s advisers and compares the workings of Tudor government with the modern British political system. Students develop their understanding of the Royal Court, patronage and decision-making, considering how Elizabeth balanced authority with advice to maintain control of her kingdom.

Students also complete a GCSE significance question using structured guidance and a model answer to develop analytical rather than descriptive responses.

An enquiry question is introduced at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout, enabling students to track their progress and build a deeper understanding of how Elizabeth established her authority during the early years of her reign.

Fully planned and ready to teach, the lesson develops historical enquiry, significance, source interpretation, comparison and GCSE exam technique. I

Included in this lesson:
Fully editable PowerPoint
Text-mapping activity on Elizabethan government
Investigation of the Royal Court, Privy Council and Parliament
Comparison between Tudor and modern government
GCSE significance question with model answer
Retrieval practice and plenary activities
Fully differentiated throughout with suggested teaching strategies

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