History GCSE Elizabeth Edexcel KT2 L3 Elizabeth Deals with Threats (Fully Resourced).
This complete lesson is part of the Edexcel 9–1 GCSE History Elizabethan England unit, Key Topic 2: Challenges at Home and Abroad, 1569–88. Lesson 3 explores How effectively did Elizabeth deal with the Catholic threats between 1569 and 1588?

The resource is fully resourced and requires no textbook, making it ready to teach immediately. It examines Elizabeth’s two key strategies for reducing the Catholic threat: Francis Walsingham’s spy network and the execution of Mary Queen of Scots in 1587.

Detailed lesson content:

Do Now / 5-a-day starter: recap questions on the Ridolfi, Throckmorton, and Babington plots, Mary Queen of Scots’ role, and Spanish involvement.

Comprehension check: students correct and expand their answers in full sentences.

Method 1: Francis Walsingham’s spy network

Students read about Walsingham’s role as Secretary of State and his development of an extensive spy network across England and Europe.

Questions cover Walsingham’s use of agents, informers, ciphers (codes), and intercepted letters to uncover plots.

Students write a three-sentence summary explaining why Walsingham’s network reduced the Catholic threat, supported with examples (e.g. Babington Plot).

Method 2: Execution of Mary Queen of Scots (1587)

Students read about Mary’s role in Catholic plotting and why Elizabeth finally agreed to her execution after the Babington Plot.

Questions establish why Mary’s execution reduced the internal Catholic threat but increased the risk of foreign invasion.

Students write a three-sentence summary on why her execution reduced the threat, using sentence starters to support scaffolding.

Comparison and evaluation

Students identify reasons why spies could be seen as more effective than executing Mary, and vice versa.

Using a structured judgement table, students write a paragraph explaining which method was most effective and why, with evidence.

Plenary: final reflection on how effectively Elizabeth dealt with Catholic threats by 1588.

This lesson builds secure knowledge of Elizabeth’s strategies against Catholic threats and develops evaluative writing skills. Students learn to balance evidence, compare approaches, and reach a supported judgement. Fully resourced, specification-aligned, and ready to teach.