Sample Schemes of Work and
Lesson Plans
GCSE Law
OCR GCSE in Law: J485
Unit B141: The nature of law. Criminal courts and criminal processes
This Support Material booklet is designed to accompany the OCR GCSE Law specification
for teaching from September 2009.
© OCR 2008
Contents
Contents
2
Introduction
3
Sample Scheme of Work: OCR GCSE Law J485: Unit B141 The nature of law.
Criminal courts and criminal processes
5
Sample Lesson Plan: OCR GCSE Law J485: B141 The nature of law. Criminal courts
and criminal processes
26
2 of 27
GCSE Law J485
Introduction
Background
Following a review of 14 – 19 education and the Secondary Curriculum Review, the Qualifications
and Curriculum Authority (QCA) revised the subject criteria for GCSEs, for first teaching in
September 2009. This applied to all awarding bodies.
The new GCSEs have more up-to-date content and encourage the development of personal,
learning and thinking skills in your students.
We redeveloped all our GCSEs, to ensure they meet your requirements. These changes give you
greater control of assessment activities and make the assessment process more manageable for
you and your students. Controlled assessment was introduced for most subjects.
We produced a summary brochure, which summarises the changes to Law. This can be found at
www.ocr.org.uk, along with the new specification.
In order to help you plan effectively for the implementation of this specification we have produced
these Schemes of Work and Sample Lesson Plans for Law. These Support Materials are designed
for guidance only and play a secondary role to the Specification.
Our Ethos
OCR involves teachers in the development of new support materials to capture current teaching
practices tailored to our new specifications. These support materials are designed to inspire
teachers and facilitate different ideas and teaching practices.
Each Scheme of Work and set of Sample Lesson Plans is provided in Word format – so that you
can use it as a foundation to build upon and amend the content to suit your teaching style and
students’ needs.
The Scheme of Work and Sample Lesson Plans provide examples of how to teach this unit and the
teaching hours are suggestions only. Some or all of it may be applicable to your teaching.
The Specification is the document on which assessment is based and specifies what content and
skills need to be covered in delivering the course. At all times, therefore, this Support Material
booklet should be read in conjunction with the Specification. If clarification on a particular point is
sought then that clarification should be found in the Specification itself.
GCSE Law J485
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A Guided Tour through the Scheme of Work
= Innovative Teaching Idea
This icon is used to highlight exceptionally innovative ideas.
= ICT Opportunity
This icon is used to illustrate when an activity could be taught using ICT
facilities.
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GCSE Law J485
Sample GCSE Scheme of Work
OCR GCSE Law Unit B141: The nature of law. Criminal courts and
criminal processes
Suggested
teaching time
Week 1
(2 Hours)
Topic
What is law and why do we need it?
Topic outline
Suggested teaching and homework
activities
Suggested resources
Points to note
Introduction: what is law?

Overview of the specification and expectations
of students.



General Discussion: what do students believe
the word ‘Law’ means?
Details of OCR website: www.ocr.org.uk and
information available about the specification,
including specimen and past exam papers and
support materials

Students to formulate their own definition of the
word ‘Law’ which is then compared to various
dictionary or text book definitions.

Specimen and past exam papers from OCR
website www.ocr.org.uk
Teachers should get students used to
using or developing their own learning
and to encourage their own research.
Also an early look at the specimen or
past exam papers is crucial.


Explain the difference between law and morals.
The understanding of key vocabulary is
key to success from the start of
teaching.

Give students some examples of legally wrong
e.g. murder, or morally wrong e.g. bullying.

Begin to ‘zone’ walls of classroom by
topics and use posters and large
vocabulary cards to immerse students
into subject.

Teachers should incorporate word
search, gap fill and multiple choice
questions as often as possible
throughout course.
= Innovative teaching idea
GCSE Law J485

Teacher provided materials or handbook for
introductory sessions
= ICT opportunity
5 of 27
Sample GCSE Scheme of Work
OCR GCSE Law Unit B141: The nature of law. Criminal courts and
criminal processes
Suggested
teaching time
Week 1
(2 Hours)
Topic
What is law and why do we need it?
Topic outline
Suggested teaching and homework
activities
Suggested resources
Points to note
Why we need law?


Newspaper articles containing a variety of
different areas of law e.g. crimes, breaches of
contract, courts and sentences


Use of Internet to research

Internet:
It is important to place an early
emphasis and to use the students’
experiences in real life e.g. parents
marriage or divorce, buying items from
shops or being a victim of a crime.

www.timesonline.co.uk


www.guardian.co.uk
Scenario quiz should link with later
topics e.g. police powers and
employment law.

Local newspaper’s website

Book Lord of the Flies (1954) William Golding

Film Provoked (2006)

Abridged version of HRA98 and or ECHR:

www.direct.gov.uk

Worksheet on consolidation of topic: key topics
and key facts


= Innovative teaching idea
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Explain to students about a democracy and
what the expectations are for its citizens within
the law. How are freedoms protected? How
does the law regulate relationships both public
and private? How are standards set? How does
the law deal with breaches of these standards?
Explain how legislation and HRA98 has
impacted on the regulation of society.
Issue scenario quiz where freedoms are
blatantly or not, interfered with by the state e.g.
police stop a youth for wearing a baseball cap.
= ICT opportunity
GCSE Law J485
Sample GCSE Scheme of Work
OCR GCSE Law Unit B141: The nature of law. Criminal courts and
criminal processes.
Suggested
teaching time
Week 2
(3 Hours)
Topic
Where we find the law – part 1 (introduction, acts of parliament and delegated legislation)
Topic outline
Suggested teaching and homework
activities
Suggested resources
Points to note
Introduction to sources of law

Students to examine the main sources of
law both primary and secondary and
suggest any advantages of each.

PowerPoint or OHT


Give students copies of each source e.g.
AOP, law report, bylaw etc…

Explain how the law has developed
historically through various sources.

Specimen and past papers from OCR
website

Students are tasked to pass a new criminal
law. They must decide on what it is, its
definition, how it will become law and
sentence?
= Innovative teaching idea
GCSE Law J485
Students need to be able to distinguish
between the different sources and
appreciate the reasons for the different
types.
= ICT opportunity
7 of 27
Sample GCSE Scheme of Work
OCR GCSE Law Unit B141: The nature of law. Criminal courts and
criminal processes.
Suggested
teaching time
Week 2
(3 Hours)
Topic outline
Acts of Parliament and
delegated legislation
= Innovative teaching idea
8 of 27
Topic
Where we find the law – part 1 (introduction, acts of parliament and delegated legislation)
Suggested teaching and homework
activities
Suggested resources
Points to note

Explain the importance of legislation in a
democracy.

Internet:


www.parliament.uk/education/

Explain the legislative process through
Parliament using an actual example:
Human Rights Act 1998 or Hunting Act
2004.

Local authority website
The AOP must be able to be easily
researched and information readily available
from the Internet.

Organise a trip to the Houses of Parliament
or a visit by the local MP, or local Councillor.

Worksheet on consolidation of topic: key
topics and key facts

Students are to research the passage of
another AOP from Green Paper to Royal
Assent from a list given by teacher.

Discuss whether an AOP is the best way to
pass laws.

Explanation of types of delegated legislation
and how it is created. Discuss the
advantages and disadvantages.
= ICT opportunity
GCSE Law J485
Sample GCSE Scheme of Work
OCR GCSE Law Unit B141: The nature of law. Criminal courts and
criminal processes.
Suggested
teaching time
Week 3
(3 Hours)
Topic
Where we find the law – part 2 (judicial precedent and European Union law)
Topic outline
Suggested teaching and homework
activities
Suggested resources
Points to note
Judicial precedent

Explain the importance in the role of the
judiciary in developing and creating law
through precedent.

PowerPoint or OHT


Key terms test on precedent e.g. stare
decisis, ratio decedendi etc…
The understanding of key vocabulary is vital
to success.


Case look at C v DPP and its impact on
Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Student worksheet containing abridged
version of C v DPP and s.34 CDA98

Students are given two fictitious cases (A
and B) and must compare the facts to find
potential precedent for B to follow A.

Film Philadelphia (1993)
A flow chart for hierarchy which must either
be provided for students or created in class
using different coloured arrows explaining
ways of sticking to or avoiding precedent.

Students must also become accustomed to
using limited use of cases to support their
understanding.
= Innovative teaching idea
GCSE Law J485

Using cases as examples, explain the
hierarchy of the courts and the distinction
between overruling and reversing.

Draw a timeline for the House of Lords and
overruling its own decisions and explain the
Court of Appeal and precedent.

Group work on producing advantages and
disadvantages of precedent.
= ICT opportunity
9 of 27
Sample GCSE Scheme of Work
OCR GCSE Law Unit B141: The nature of law. Criminal courts and
criminal processes.
Suggested
teaching time
Week 3
(3 Hours)
Topic
Where we find the law – part 2 (judicial precedent and European Union law)
Topic outline
Suggested teaching and homework
activities
Suggested resources
Points to note
European Union law

Explanation of historic context of EU law
using cases as evidence e.g. Van Duyn v.
HO.



Students to carry out group activity on
differences between Treaties, Regulations,
Directives and Decisions.
Show students Monty Python’s Life of Brian
(1979) ‘What did the Romans ever do for
us?’ and compare with: What did Europe
ever do for us? Use Internet for help here:
Traditionally lecturers have found difficulty in
maintaining interest in this complex area.
Thus time should be spent developing
quality resources for students.

www.europarl.europa.eu/


Worksheet on consolidation of topic: key
topics and key facts
Group discussion is important here which
will link back to Week 1 and freedoms.

= Innovative teaching idea
10 of 27
Group discussion on the advantages and
disadvantages of EU law using HRA98 as
evidence.
= ICT opportunity
GCSE Law J485
Sample GCSE Scheme of Work
OCR GCSE Law Unit B141: The nature of law. Criminal courts and
criminal processes.
Suggested
teaching time
Week 4
(2 Hours)
Topic outline
The distinction between
criminal law and civil law
Basic overview and definitions
of criminal, contract and tort
law
= Innovative teaching idea
GCSE Law J485
topic
The classifications of law
Suggested teaching and homework
activities
Suggested resources
Points to note


PowerPoint or OHT


Worksheets and textbooks
Week 4 is an opportune time to set some
consolidation homework from topics
covered in Weeks 1-4.

Vocabulary is vital here.

Students are not expected to learn
definitions of offences and defences, rather
they must be able to identify whether an
issue is a crime, a tort or a contractual
issue.

Contractual issues can be linked to later
topics e.g. employment law and any part
time jobs students have.
Explain the differences between civil and
criminal law. Refer back to areas already
covered e.g. the courts and to topics to be
covered e.g. sentencing and remedies.

Students are given different scenarios to
decide which type of area governs the
‘dispute’ e.g. D punches V in the face, V’s
nose is broken; V buys a sandwich from D
and finds a snail in it etc…

Explain the main areas of criminal law:
actus reus and mens rea, offences and
defences in basic terms.

Explain the tort of negligence.

Explain the main contractual issues of offer,
acceptance and consideration.

Students in three groups to create posters
as memory aids e.g. crime = murder –
intentional killing of a human being.

PowerPoint or OHT

Worksheets and textbooks

Flip chart paper and coloured pens

Worksheet on consolidation of topic: key
topics and key facts
= ICT opportunity
11 of 27
Sample GCSE Scheme of Work
OCR GCSE Law Unit B141: The nature of law. Criminal courts and
criminal processes.
Suggested
teaching time
Week 5
(2 Hours)
Topic outline
Police power of stop and
search
= Innovative teaching idea
12 of 27
Topic
Police powers and individual rights – part 1
Suggested teaching and homework
activities
Suggested resources
Points to note


Introductory handout on stop and search


Variety of items of clothing e.g. hat,
sunglasses, coat, gloves etc…
Invite a police officer from the local station
or headquarters.

Specimen and past papers from OCR
website www.ocr.org.uk
Role play is important here for visual
learners.

It is crucial that students need to appreciate
the balance between the police’s right to
investigate crime and innocent citizen’s
rights not to be interfered with by the police.
Introductory activity to stop and search
under s.1 and Code A Police And Criminal
Evidence Act 1984, using a fictitious
scenario.

Explanation of police and citizen’s rights
under PACE and common law.

Student activity of answering true or false
for stop and search scenarios. Followed by
definitive gap fill exercise on citizen’s rights.

Role play ‘in a public place’: students to
decide which items of clothing can be
removed and which cannot?


Local police authorities website
= ICT opportunity
GCSE Law J485
Sample GCSE Scheme of Work
OCR GCSE Law Unit B141: The nature of law. Criminal courts and
criminal processes.
Suggested
teaching time
Week 5
(2 Hours)
Topic
Police powers and individual rights – part 1
Topic outline
Suggested teaching and homework
activities
Suggested resources
Points to note
Police power of arrest

Explanation of police power of arrest under
s.24 (as amended by Serious Organised
Crime and Police Act 2005) and Code G
Police And Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

Show clips ranging from historic police TV
e.g. The Sweeny or Life on Mars to more
modern policing e.g. The Bill



Explain how a citizen’s rights are protected
during an arrest.
Not the Nine o’clock News’ ‘Constable
Savage’ sketch


Students to role play an arrest given by the
teacher with some clear and not so clear
irregularities.
Worksheet on consolidation of topic: key
topics and key facts
= Innovative teaching idea
GCSE Law J485
It is important for students to appreciate the
changes in police methods over the last 30
years.
= ICT opportunity
13 of 27
Sample GCSE Scheme of Work
OCR GCSE Law Unit B141: The nature of law. Criminal courts and
criminal processes.
Suggested
teaching time
Week 6
(2 Hours)
Topic
Police powers and individual rights – part 2
Topic outline
Suggested teaching and homework
activities
Suggested resources
Points to note
Police power of detention


PowerPoint or OHT


Gapped handout
A visit to a local police station is important
here.

Colourful posters of what the police could
be looking for during the search at the
police station

Role play is important here for visual
learners.

Flip chart paper

Specimen and past papers from OCR
website www.ocr.org.uk

Worksheet on consolidation of topic: key
topics and key facts are crucial here
The balancing act between the
police and the citizen
= Innovative teaching idea
14 of 27
Discussion as to the police power of
detention of a suspect at a police station
under PACE and limitations placed on this
e.g. time limits to detention and delays in
allowing legal advice.

Explain how the individual’s rights are
protected during detention e.g. right to legal
advice, copy of the codes of practice, time
limits and the right to silence?

Group activity on searches, samples and
fingerprints.

In three groups, students should prepare
materials on this area by comparing police
powers with citizens’ rights in all three
areas: stop and search, arrest and
detention.
= ICT opportunity
GCSE Law J485
Sample GCSE Scheme of Work
OCR GCSE Law Unit B141: The nature of law. Criminal courts and
criminal processes.
Suggested
teaching time
Week 7
(2 Hours)
Topic outline
Courts structure: types of
offences
= Innovative teaching idea
GCSE Law J485
Topic
Courts structure, types of offences and the provision of legal services – part 1
Suggested teaching and homework
activities
Suggested resources
Points to note


PowerPoint or OHT slides


Specimen and past papers from OCR
website www.ocr.org.uk
A trip to the local courts should be
organised: Magistrates’ and Crown Court if
possible.

Satellite or cable TV: Crown Court, Judge
John Deed

The introductory activity should be revisited
in Week 9.
Begin by asking students to list as many
crimes as they can, then to categorise them
(e.g. homicide, property related etc…), then
to provide definitions and place in order of
severity.

An explanation of the different ways crimes
can be classified: by type, by seriousness
etc…

Explanation of summary, triable either way
and indictable offences using non-fatal
offences as examples, e.g. common assault
= summary offence.

Full discussion of pre-trial hearings to
include expansion of TEW offences through
pleas before venue and mode of trial (guilty
or not guilty pleas).
= ICT opportunity
15 of 27
Sample GCSE Scheme of Work
OCR GCSE Law Unit B141: The nature of law. Criminal courts and
criminal processes.
Suggested
teaching time
Week 7
(2 Hours)
Topic
Courts structure, types of offences and the provision of legal services – part 1
Topic outline
Suggested teaching and homework
activities
Suggested resources
Courts structure and appeals

Basic explanation of hierarchy of the
criminal courts.

Gapped flow charts showing hierarchy and
appeals structure in the criminal courts

Explanation of appeals from the
Magistrates’ Courts and the Crown Courts
for both defence and prosecution.

Worksheet on consolidation of topic: key
topics and key facts
= Innovative teaching idea
16 of 27
Points to note
= ICT opportunity
GCSE Law J485
Sample GCSE Scheme of Work
OCR GCSE Law Unit B141: The nature of law. Criminal courts and
criminal processes.
Suggested
teaching time
Week 8
(2 Hours)
Topic
Courts structure, types of offences and the provision of legal services – part 2
Topic outline
Suggested teaching and homework
activities
Suggested resources
Points to note
The Magistrates’ Courts


Text books or student information sheets


Internet:

http://www.magistrates-association.org.uk/
A visit to a Magistrates’ Court is possible
here, or organise a visit by a magistrate to
the school.

Mock trial organised in school or through
local Magistrates’ Court

Flip chart paper and coloured pens

Internet:


http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/
A visit to Crown Court, if possible, is of
extreme value here.

Mock trial organised in school or through
local Crown Court.

The trial process in the Crown
Court
= Innovative teaching idea
GCSE Law J485
A basic look at the jurisdiction of the
Magistrates’ Court, the Youth Court and the
Family Court and the differences between
them.
Explain the trial process for summary and
triable either way offences in Magistrates’
Courts.

Students to produce flow charts for the trial
processes in the Magistrates’ Court.

Explain the role of the Crown Court in the
criminal process

Students to produce flow charts for the
Crown Court’s trial process

Explain the provision of criminal legal
services - Duty Solicitor scheme only.

Worksheet on consolidation of topic: key
topics and key facts
= ICT opportunity
17 of 27
Sample GCSE Scheme of Work
OCR GCSE Law Unit B141: The nature of law. Criminal courts and
criminal processes.
Suggested
teaching time
Week 9
(2 Hours)
Topic outline
The aims and objectives of
sentencing.
Topic
Suggested teaching and homework
activities
Suggested resources
Points to note


Copy of CJA03


Use statistics of sentencing from
Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court:
www.justice.gov.uk/
Teacher should refer back to week 1’s
scheme of work and look at newspaper
articles to see if students agree with
sentences.

Key vocabulary is vital here.

Arrange a specific visit to see sentencing in
the Crown or Magistrates’ Court.

The Sentencing Guidelines
Council
= Innovative teaching idea
18 of 27
Sentencing – part 1
Explain the aims and objectives of
sentencing with specific reference to the
Criminal Justice Act 2003.
Students to produce posters on the six aims
of sentencing e.g. retribution and
rehabilitation.

Group discussion on murder and the
mandatory life sentences under s.21
Criminal Justice Act 2003.

Specimen and past papers from OCR
website

A look at the Sentencing Guidelines Council
and how important its role is in setting levels
of sentence.

www.sentencing-guidelines.gov.uk/

Students are given a ‘new’ crime and are to
decide what sentence is appropriate.

Worksheet on consolidation of topic: key
topics and key facts
= ICT opportunity
GCSE Law J485
Sample GCSE Scheme of Work
OCR GCSE Law Unit B141: The nature of law. Criminal courts and
criminal processes.
Suggested
teaching time
Week 10
(2 Hours)
Topic
Sentencing – part 2
Topic outline
Suggested teaching and homework
activities
Suggested resources
Points to note
Sentences for adult offenders

Look at types of sentences available to
adult offenders e.g. custodial, community
sentences, fines and discharges.

Definitive handout covering definitions of
sentences available to adult offenders


Specimen and past papers from OCR website
Teacher must ensure students don’t get
confused between the types of adult and
youth sentencing.

Students to look at scenarios on crimes
committed. They decide any aggravating
factors and any mitigating factors and
suggest appropriate sentences.

Sentences should be looked at in view of
the aims and objectives covered in Week 9.

Explain types of offences available to
young offenders in addition to those given
to adults e.g. youth rehabilitation orders,
referral orders and reparation orders.
Sentences for young
offenders


= Innovative teaching idea
GCSE Law J485
Students to look at scenarios of crimes and
decide any aggravating factor and any
mitigating factors and suggest appropriate
sentences.

Handout covering sentences available to youth
offenders

Organise a visit from the Probation Service
or Charity dealing with Young Offenders.

Specimen and past papers from OCR website


Internet:
Sentences should be looked at in view of
the aims and objectives covered in Week 9.

http://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/

http://www.direct.gov.uk/
Students to evaluate the advantages and
disadvantages of youth sentences.
= ICT opportunity
19 of 27
Sample GCSE Scheme of Work
OCR GCSE Law Unit B141: The nature of law. Criminal courts and
criminal processes.
Suggested
teaching time
Week 10
(2 Hours)
Topic
Sentencing – part 2
Topic outline
Suggested teaching and homework
activities
Suggested resources
Points to note
Proportionality in sentencing


Newspaper articles containing a variety of
different areas of law e.g. crimes, breaches of
contract, courts and sentences

Refer back to newspapers or Internet
research carried out in first week.


Use of Internet to research
Students should be encouraged to
comment on sentences passed.

Internet:

www.timesonline.co.uk

www.guardian.co.uk

Worksheet on consolidation of topic: key topics
and key facts
= Innovative teaching idea
20 of 27
Explanation of the necessity of
proportionality in sentencing and the role of
the HRA98.
= ICT opportunity
GCSE Law J485
Sample GCSE Scheme of Work
OCR GCSE Law Unit B141: The nature of law. Criminal courts and
criminal processes.
Suggested
teaching time
Week 11
(2 Hours)
Topic outline
The role of the magistrates
and the advantages
Topic
Suggested teaching and homework
activities
Suggested resources
Points to note

Talk by a magistrate or explanation by
teacher on their role and that of the clerk to
the court.

Gapped or flow chart handouts


Text books or student information sheets

http://www.magistrates-association.org.uk/
A visit to a Magistrates’ Court is possible
here, or organise a visit by a magistrate to
the school.
Students to quiz the magistrate or teacher
on the advantages of using legally
unqualified persons to dispense justice e.g.
cost, local knowledge.

Flip chart paper and coloured pens

Specimen and past papers from OCR
website

Explanation of the qualification and
appointment of magistrates and their social
background.

Newspaper or Internet articles about
appointments of magistrates:


www.timesonline.co.uk www.guardian.co.uk
This area covers a lot of information –
memory aids such as flash cards or
colourfully produced posters are essential.

Group activity around card exercise giving
information about fictitious persons wishing
to apply to be a magistrate. Students to
decide if they are acceptable candidates?

PowerPoint or OHT


Card exercise on application to become a
magistrate
Students can produce further categories of
fictitious persons to use in class.

Specimen and past papers from OCR
website

Worksheet on consolidation of topic: key
topics and key facts

Qualification and appointment
of magistrates
= Innovative teaching idea
GCSE Law J485
Lay persons (1) - use of lay magistrates - part 1
= ICT opportunity
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Sample GCSE Scheme of Work
OCR GCSE Law Unit B141: The nature of law. Criminal courts and
criminal processes.
Suggested
teaching time
Week 12
(2 Hours)
Topic
Lay persons (1) - use of lay magistrates - part 2
Topic outline
Suggested teaching and homework
activities
Suggested resources
Points to note
Magistrates’ training


Gapped or flow chart handouts


Text books or student information sheets

Internet:

http://www.magistrates-association.org.uk/

Flip chart paper and coloured pens

Specimen and past papers from OCR
website

Flash cards can be used to prompt or add to
students own findings with brief statements
that they must expand on e.g. ‘middle-aged’
or ‘middle class’ and ‘inconsistent
sentencing’

Worksheet on consolidation of topic: key
topics and key facts

A critique of using lay
magistrates
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Talk by a magistrate or explanation by
teacher on their training, retirement and
removal.
Students to carry out research activity on
retirement and removal in a school library or
LRC using teacher produced work pack.

Group exercise for students to work out any
potential disadvantages for using lay
magistrates.

Produce posters clarifying advantages and
disadvantages of magistrates.
Most of the points in this topic can be
addressed by the visiting magistrate or on
an organised visit.
= ICT opportunity
GCSE Law J485
Sample GCSE Scheme of Work
OCR GCSE Law Unit B141: The nature of law. Criminal courts and
criminal processes.
Suggested
teaching
time
Week 13
(2 Hours)
Topic outline
The role of juries and
their advantages
Topic
Suggested teaching and
homework activities
Suggested resources
Points to note


Scenario based around a fictitious criminal trial – did he do it?


Internet:
Again role play can be used here to
stimulate learning.

www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk


http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CrimeJusticeAndTheLaw/Goingtocourt/
Many of the official documents in this
area are available on the Internet.

TV BBC’s The Verdict (2007)

DVD of Twelve Angry Men or Runaway Jury
Activity: the names of 12 students
from random are called out taken
to another room and informed they
are a jury. The other students are
divided up into a court and given a
scenario. The ‘jury’ is called back
and a brief trial is played out.

Explain the role of the jury in both
criminal trials and the limited use in
civil trials.

Explain the reasons for using
juries, e.g. transparent system of
justice, anonymity and privacy in
decision making etc… (i.e. the
advantages)
= Innovative teaching idea
GCSE Law J485
Lay persons (2) - the use of juries - part 1
= ICT opportunity
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Sample GCSE Scheme of Work
OCR GCSE Law Unit B141: The nature of law. Criminal courts and
criminal processes.
Suggested
teaching
time
Week 13
(2 Hours)
Topic outline
Qualification and
selection of juries
Topic
Suggested teaching and
homework activities
Suggested resources
Points to note

Basic overview of jury qualification
and disqualification.

15-20 coloured flash cards


DVD of Runaway Jury is useful here

Students given flash cards with
pictures of people and their
background and must decide if
they qualify for jury service e.g.
police officer or 15 year old etc…
Each student could be asked to create
or suggest three more types of people
who could and who could not sit on a
jury.

The use of case law e.g. Fraser (1989)
or Wilson and Sprason (1995) is
important here.

Basic overview of jury selection
including the prosecution or
defence’s right to challenge the
jury.
= Innovative teaching idea
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Lay persons (2) - the use of juries - part 1
= ICT opportunity
GCSE Law J485
Sample GCSE Scheme of Work
OCR GCSE Law Unit B141: The nature of law. Criminal courts and
criminal processes.
Suggested
teaching time
Week 14
(2 Hours)
Topic outline
Disadvantages and
alternatives to jury trial.
Mock test on B141
= Innovative teaching idea
GCSE Law J485
Topic
Lay persons (2) - the use of juries - part 2
Suggested teaching and homework
activities
Suggested resources
Points to note

Using information already covered, students
in small groups to produce comprehensive
list of disadvantages of using juries.

Gapped or flow chart handouts text books
or student


Flip chart paper and coloured pens

Students in small groups to consider the
merits of using alternatives to jury trial e.g.
single judge or panel of judges.
Students are encouraged to decide
themselves on the disadvantages and
alternatives to juries without the use of
textbooks, Internet or other resources.

Students to sit mock exam using the
specimen/past question papers from
www.ocr.org.uk or one written by the
teacher. This is done under exam
conditions.

Specimen and past papers or one written by
teacher

A mock exam for B141 is essential at the
end of the unit. Students should be briefed
on this throughout the unit.
= ICT opportunity
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Sample GCSE Lesson Plan
OCR GCSE Law Unit B141: The nature of
law. Criminal courts and criminal processes
The Polices’ Powers of Stop and Search and Arrest
OCR recognises that the teaching of this qualification will vary greatly from school to school and
from teacher to teacher. With that in mind this lesson plan is offered as a possible approach but will
be subject to modifications by the individual teacher.
Lesson length is assumed to be one hour.
Learning Objectives for the Lesson
Objective 1
Students will be able to identify appropriate situations for stop and search by the
police.
Objective 2
Students will be able to explain a citizen’s rights during a stop and search.
Objective 3
Students will be able to perform an analysis of a fictitious stop and search
situation.
Recap of Previous Experience and Prior Knowledge

General recap on the criminal process. What do we mean by the criminal process? Who is
involved in the criminal process in the English legal system? What are the courts that a
criminal could appear in? Why are there different criminal courts? What is the role of the
police in the criminal process? What powers do students think the police have? What kind of
sentencing is available for convicted criminals? This will lead into the introductory scenario
given at the beginning of the class and recapped at the end to check understanding.
Content
Time
Content
10 minutes
Introductory activity to stop and search: give out session handout which begins
with a fictitious scenario based around a stop and search situation. This involves
some acceptable and some unacceptable practice used by a police officer e.g.
‘stopping a citizen because they are wearing a baseball cap’. Students are to
read the scenario and to comment on which parts they think are acceptable or
unacceptable during the stop and search.
10 minutes
Explanation: Teacher to use PowerPoint or OHT demonstration of the police
powers of stop and search and how a citizen’s rights are protected under s.1 and
Code A of PACE84 or common law e.g. Osman v. DPP.
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GCSE Law J485
Sample GCSE Lesson Plan
Time
Content
10 minutes
Student Activity 1: Student tasked to complete a true or false activity. Here the
handout lists 5-10 situations where they must correctly identify whether the
police’s reason for the stop was lawful under PACE84 and why? Students to
feedback their answers. Teacher to qualify each student answer with reference
to the law under PACE84. Additional situations can be provided for more able
students.
5 minutes
Student Activity 2: Students to complete a definitive gap fill exercise which
identifies and demonstrates a citizen’s rights under a stop and search e.g. ‘a
stop and search can only be carried out under s.1 in a ______ place.’ Teacher to
qualify each student answer with reference to the law under PACE84. Additional
situations can be provided for more able students.
10 minutes
Role Play: Students are to role play a stop and search with specific reference to
the removal of clothing in a street. One or two students are provided with a
variety of extra clothing to wear. The remainder of the class, in small groups, are
tasked to provide a definitive list of what can and cannot be removed at the
request of the police in such a situation. The groups feedback and agree the list.
Teacher to clarify.
Consolidation
Time
Content
15 minutes
Students to return to introductory activity involving the fictitious stop and search.
Students must revisit their original answers and amend if necessary and, this
time, provide the correct part of PACE or the common law for their answer.
Teacher to discuss answers.
Homework: Students given a consolidation activity: Is the stop and search
lawful? which mirrors the introductory fictitious activity.
GCSE Law J485
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