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

sources of law

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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: sources of law

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Quick Recall

Write down everything you already know about sources of law. Then check against the key terms: GCSE Law Exam Tips — Sources of Law. Use a mini-whiteboard or paper.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Parent/Teacher Guide:
Before lesson: Read the script below. Pre-teach key vocab: GCSE Law Exam Tips — Sources of Law.
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: sources of law. 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 sources of law

Plenary (5 minutes)

Check Out

Your student states one thing they learned and one question they still have about sources of law.

Lesson 2: Core Concepts: sources of law

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Review Previous Lesson

Quick recap: write 3 key points from Lesson 1 on sources of law. Check them against the notes below.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Key Fact: The main sources of law in England and Wales are statute law, common law, delegated legislation and international treaties
Key Fact: Statute law is made by Parliament — Acts of Parliament are the highest form of domestic law
Key Fact: Common law is developed through judicial decisions — judges interpret statutes and create law in new areas
Key Fact: Delegated legislation is law made by bodies authorised by Parliament (e.g. statutory instruments, by-laws)
Key Fact: Parliamentary sovereignty means Acts of Parliament override all other domestic sources of law
Key Fact: The Human Rights Act 1998 incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) into UK law

Practice (10 minutes)

Q: explain the key ideas of sources of law

Answer:

Plenary (5 minutes)

Explain Back

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

Lesson 3: Application: sources of law

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Quick Recall

Recall the key terms: GCSE Law Exam Tips — Sources of Law. 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: sources of law

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 far does parliamentary sovereignty limit the effectiveness of other sources of law? (15 marks) <div class="

Parliamentary sovereignty significantly limits the effectiveness of other sources of law because it ensures that Acts of Parliament override all other domestic law, but it does not make other sources irrelevant. Statute law's supremacy means that when a statute conflicts with common law, the statute prevails — Parliament can abolish or modify any common law rule. This means judges developing common law are always subject to parliamentary override, limiting the law-making power of the courts. The doctrine of implied repeal means that a newer Act automatically overrides an older one, preventing future Parliaments from being bound. Delegated legislation is entirely subordinate — it can be challenged in court if it exceeds the powers given by the enabling Act (ultra vires), and Parliament can revoke it at any time. However, other sources of law remain effective within their limits. Common law fills gaps where statute law has not addressed an issue, and judicial interpretation of statutes effectively shapes how legislation operates in practice. The Human Rights Act 1998, while not overriding parliamentary sovereignty, creates strong pressure on Parliament to comply with Convention right

Exam Tips: Know all the sources of law and be able to rank them in the hierarchy | The three rules of statutory interpretation are frequently tested — know each with an example | Delegated legislation advantages and disadvantages are a common question | Parliamentary sovereignty is a fundamental concept — explain it clearly and evaluate its limits | The Human Rights Act 1998 is important — know how it works and its limits
Common Errors: ✗ Saying common law is more important than statute law ✓ Under parliamentary sovereignty, statute law overrides common law — if a statute and common law conflict, the statute prevails ✗ Confusing delegated legislation with primary legislation ✓ Delegated legislation is made under authority from an Act of Parliament (the enabling/parent Act) — it is secondary, not primary, legislation ✗ Thinking the Human Rights Act allows courts to strike down Acts of Parliament ✓ Courts can only issue a 'declaration of incompatibility' — they cannot strike down legislation. Parliament must decide whether to amend it. ✗ Saying the literal rule always leads to injustice ✓ The literal rule promotes certainty a
Stretch & Challenge (Grade 8-9):
  • Synoptic links: explain how sources of law connects to another Law topic you have studied
  • Real-world: research one real-world use or example of sources of law
  • Critical: "What are the limitations of the models used in sources of law?"

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

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