Homeschool Guide: These lesson plans are a guide for parents. Content may contain errors — always cross-reference with official exam board specifications.

offences against the person

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4 detailed 50-minute lessons with teaching scripts, worked examples, parent guides, and assessment criteria.

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Lesson Overview

Total Lessons: 4
Tier: Foundation and Higher
Duration: 50 minutes per lesson (200 minutes total)
Exam Boards: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, CCEA

Learning Objectives

Prerequisites

Materials & Equipment

Lesson 1: Introduction: offences against the person

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Quick Recall

Write down everything you already know about offences against the person. Then check against the key terms: key terms from offences against the person. Use a mini-whiteboard or paper.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Parent/Teacher Guide:
Before lesson: Read the script below. Pre-teach key vocab: key terms from offences against the person.
If stuck: Re-read the revision notes (link above), then break the content into smaller steps.
Extension: See the Stretch & Challenge ideas in Lesson 4.
Teaching Script (35 mins):
Mins 0-5 - Hook: "Today: offences against the person. By the end you will be able to answer exam questions on it unaided. It connects to the rest of Law because the ideas here recur across the spec."
Mins 5-20 - Direct Instruction: Work through the core ideas below one at a time; after each, ask your student to explain it back in their own words.
Mins 20-30 - Guided Practice: Model the worked example together, then let your student attempt the first practice question with guidance.
Mins 30-35 - Independent Practice: 2-3 practice questions from Lesson 3 below, with immediate feedback.
First Look

Start with the revision notes summary, then attempt: explain the key ideas of offences against the person

Plenary (5 minutes)

Check Out

Your student states one thing they learned and one question they still have about offences against the person.

Lesson 2: Core Concepts: offences against the person

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Review Previous Lesson

Quick recap: write 3 key points from Lesson 1 on offences against the person. Check them against the notes below.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Key Fact: Assault is causing the victim to fear immediate unlawful force — no physical contact is required
Key Fact: Battery is the unlawful application of force to another person — any unwanted touching can amount to battery
Key Fact: Assault and battery are summary offences tried in the Magistrates' Court, carrying up to 6 months' imprisonment
Key Fact: Section 47 OAPA 1861: actual bodily harm (ABH) — injury that is more than transient, including psychological harm
Key Fact: Section 20 OAPA 1861: wounding or grievous bodily harm (GBH) with malice aforethought — a break in both layers of skin
Key Fact: Section 18 OAPA 1861: wounding or GBH with intent to cause GBH — the most serious non-fatal offence, carrying life imprisonment

Practice (10 minutes)

Q: explain the key ideas of offences against the person

Answer:

Plenary (5 minutes)

Explain Back

Your student teaches the key points back to you without looking. Fill any gaps immediately.

Lesson 3: Application: offences against the person

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Quick Recall

Recall the key terms: key terms from offences against the person. Define each in one sentence.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Parent/Teacher Guide: Let your student attempt each question alone first, then compare with the model answer. Award method marks for correct working even if the final answer is wrong.

Work through the practice questions on the revision notes page for this topic.

Plenary (5 minutes)

Error Review

Review any questions answered incorrectly. Identify whether the error was knowledge, method, or reading the question.

Lesson 4: Exam Practice: offences against the person

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Command Words

Review what these command words require: state (one point), describe (say what happens), explain (say why), compare (both sides), evaluate (judgement).

Main Content (35 minutes)

Extended Answer

Extended question: Full-Mark Response How effective is the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 in protecting victims of non-fatal offences? (15 marks) <div class="

The Offences Against the Person Act 1861 provides a framework for prosecuting non-fatal offences but is significantly limited by its outdated language, confusing structure and gaps in protection. The Act does offer a graduated hierarchy of offences from common assault through to section 18 GBH with intent, allowing the criminal justice system to respond proportionately to different levels of harm. Section 47, 20 and 18 provide increasing maximum sentences that reflect the seriousness of the injury caused. The Act has been interpreted by the courts to cover a wide range of harms, including psychological injury for ABH, ensuring that victims of threatening behaviour are not excluded. However, the Act is over 160 years old and its language is archaic and confusing. The term 'malice aforethought' in section 20 is misleading — it does not require malice or aforethought as commonly understood, but only recklessness. The distinction between 'actual' and 'grievous' bodily harm is unclear and has led to inconsistent charging decisions. The Act does not properly address modern harms such as stalking, harassment or coercive control — these have required separate legislation. Furthermore, comm

Exam Tips: Know the hierarchy of offences: assault/battery → s47 ABH → s20 GBH → s18 GBH with intent | Distinguish clearly between the mens rea for each offence — especially s20 (recklessness) vs s18 (specific intent) | Use the OAPA 1861 section numbers — examiners expect precision | Understand what counts as a 'wound' — both skin layers must be broken | Be able to evaluate the OAPA 1861 — it is widely criticised as outdated and confusing
Common Errors: ✗ Confusing assault and battery ✓ Assault = fear of immediate force (no contact); battery = actual physical contact (unwanted touching or hitting) ✗ Thinking ABH requires serious injury ✓ ABH is any harm more than transient or trifling — bruises and scratches can amount to ABH ✗ Confusing s18 and s20 GBH ✓ S18 requires specific intent to cause really serious harm (max life); s20 requires recklessness as to some harm (max 5 years) ✗ Saying consent is never a defence to offences against the person ✓ Consent can be a defence to minor harm (sport, everyday contact) and to ABH+ in recognised exceptions (surgery, tattooing, religious ceremonies)
Stretch & Challenge (Grade 8-9):
  • Synoptic links: explain how offences against the person connects to another Law topic you have studied
  • Real-world: research one real-world use or example of offences against the person
  • Critical: "What are the limitations of the models used in offences against the person?"

Plenary (5 minutes)

Assessment Criteria
  • Got it: Confident explanation + correct worked examples
  • Getting there: Main points OK, needs support with detail
  • Not yet: Confused on key concepts - re-run Lesson 2

Homework & Consolidation

Recommended Resources

🎓 Smart Lesson (Guided)