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Foreign Policy Under Wolsey: Ambition, Strategy and European Power | AQA A Level History

Foreign Policy Under Wolsey: Ambition, Strategy and European Power | AQA A Level History

Subject: History

Age range: 16+

Resource type: Lesson (complete)

Last updated

9 June 2026

pptx, 3.16 MB
pptx, 3.16 MB
PNG, 333.22 KB
PNG, 333.22 KB
PNG, 333.89 KB
PNG, 333.89 KB

AQA A Level 1C The Tudors: England 1485-1603

The aim of this lesson is to evaluate the role Henry VIII played in Europe and if he did indeed play third fiddle throughout.

Students begin by revisiting the foreign policy of Henry VII before being introduced to the major European rulers and rivalries dominating the early sixteenth century, including France, Spain and the Holy Roman Empire.

Students analyse key events and diplomatic developments including the French Wars, the Battle of Flodden, the Treaties of Bruges, London and Amiens, the Field of the Cloth of Gold and the Peace of Cambrai

Students are presented with a range of facts, scenarios and evidence-based activities which encourage them to assess how effectively Wolsey and Henry asserted England’s authority on the European stage. They will weigh up successes and failures before reaching a substantiated judgement on the overall effectiveness of Tudor foreign policy.

The lesson culminates in students deciding whether England became a major European power under Wolsey and Henry VIII, or whether Tudor diplomacy was ultimately overshadowed by France, Spain and the Charles V.

The plenary focuses on analysing and challenging an historical interpretation, enabling students to apply and test their newly acquired knowledge and understanding.

Exam practice is also included, complete with a writing frame and mark scheme to support students in developing confident analytical responses.

An enquiry question runs throughout the lesson, helping students track their progress and deepen their historical thinking across the lesson and wider unit of work.

Included in this lesson:
Fully editable PowerPoint lesson
Recap of Henry VII’s foreign policy
Activities analysing Tudor diplomacy and European relations
Coverage of key treaties, wars and alliances
Decision-making and judgement tasks
Interpretation/source analysis plenary
Exam-style question practice with model answer
Differentiated activities
Suggested teaching strategies included

Any reviews would be gratefully received to aid future planning or adapting my resources.

Get this resource as part of a bundle and save up to 39%

A bundle is a package of resources grouped together to teach a particular topic, or a series of lessons, in one place.

Bundle

AQA A Level History: The Tudors Foreign Policy Complete Lesson Bundle

This bundle explores the development of Tudor foreign policy from the reign of Henry VII through to Elizabeth I. Students examine the changing aims, successes and failures of Tudor monarchs in their relations with foreign powers including France, Spain and Ireland. The bundle begins with an introduction to Henry VII’s foreign policy aims before exploring key case studies including Brittany and Ireland. Students then investigate the foreign policy of Henry VIII both under and after Thomas Wolsey, before assessing the policies of Mary I and Elizabeth I. The final lessons focus on the war with Spain and Elizabeth’s difficulties in Ireland. Throughout the bundle, students assess changing foreign policy aims, analyse diplomacy, treaties, war and rebellion, and evaluate the success of Tudor monarchs in securing England’s position at home and abroad. Lessons include engaging activities, enquiry questions, interpretation work and exam-style practice, helping students build confidence in analytical and evaluative writing. The lessons are as follows: L1 intro to Henry VII Foreign Policy L2 Henry VII and Brittany L3 Henry VII and Ireland L4 Henry VIII Foreign Policy under Wolsey L5 Henry VIII Foreign Policy after Wolsey L6 Mary I Foreign Policy L7 Elizabeth I Foreign Policy L8 War with Spain L9 Elizabeth and Ireland Skills developed throughout the bundle: Source and interpretation analysis Evaluating historical interpretations Explaining significance and causation Comparing continuity and change Analysing treaties, alliances and diplomacy Constructing supported judgements Extract based exam practice Essay planning and analytical writing Map and contextual analysis Debate and discussion activities Any reviews would be appreciated to aid future planning.

£20.00
Bundle

AQA A Level Tudors Henry VIII Complete Unit Bundle

**AQA A Level 1C The Tudors: England, 1485–1603** This comprehensive bundle on Henry VIII has been created to help A Level History students confidently access the AQA Tudors course and engage with the key ideas, themes and debates that define the period. The resources are designed to make complex political, religious and social developments clear, structured and accessible, while still stretching students aiming for the highest grades. Henry VIII remains one of the most compelling monarchs in English history, a ruler whose personality, decisions and ambitions shaped the Tudor state and left a legacy still debated today. Throughout this bundle, students explore the central enquiry: How strong and successful was Henry VIII as king? Across the lessons, students will examine: Henry’s style of kingship and how effectively he ruled England The evolution of Tudor government and the changing role of Parliament Henry’s character and decision‑making, including strengths, weaknesses and contradictions The significance of key individuals such as Wolsey, More and Cromwell Economic and social developments under Henry’s reign Foreign policy aims and achievements, including the pursuit of military glory The upheaval caused by the Break with Rome and the transformation of religion, society and royal authority Students will judge whether Henry was a commanding Renaissance monarch, a manipulated figurehead, or something in between. The lessons are as follows: L1 Introduction L2 Aims of Henry VIII L3 Henry VIII and Government L4 Catherine of Aragon L5 Rise of Wolsey L6 Interpretations of Wolsey L7 Downfall of Wolsey L8 King’s Great Matter L9 Break with Rome L10 Henry VIII & Humanism L11 Rise of Cromwell L12 Pilgrimage of Grace L13 Dissolution of the Monasteries L14 How Protestant was England by 1547? L15 Foreign Policy under Wolsey L16 Henry VIII Foreign Policy 1529-1547 L17 Henry VIII and Society L18 Henry VIII and the Economy Every lesson includes: Both AQA exam question types Model answers and annotated examples Step‑by‑step guidance on structure and technique Scaffolding and challenge tasks Differentiated activities Mark schemes (with a reminder to consult the AQA website for official assessment materials) These resources are designed to support all learners while enabling the most able students to reach the top grades. If you are interested in the full Tudor A Level Bundle 1485-1603, please click here: /teaching-resource/resource-13151989. If you have any questions about the lessons or the course, please contact me via my TES shop. Reviews are always appreciated and help other teachers find high‑quality resources.

£35.00
Bundle

AQA A Level History: The Tudors – Henry VIII & Wolsey Foreign Policy Bundle

This bundle contains two fully resourced and editable lessons exploring the success of Tudor foreign policy under Henry VIII and Cardinal Wolsey. Students investigate England’s changing role in Europe, analysing key events and diplomatic developments including the French Wars, Battle of Flodden, Battle of Pavia, the Field of the Cloth of Gold, the Treaties of London, Bruges and Amiens, the Peace of Cambrai and the Rough Wooing. The lessons also examine Henry VIII’s relationships with France, Spain, Scotland, Ireland and the Holy Roman Empire, alongside the growing influence of Charles V. Through retrieval tasks, evidence-based activities, discussion and evaluative exercises, students assess how successfully Henry VIII and Wolsey pursued prestige, power and international influence, while considering whether England remained overshadowed by the major European powers. Both lessons include enquiry questions throughout, differentiated activities, interpretation work and exam-style question practice with writing frames, model answers and mark schemes to support analytical and evaluative writing skills. Included in this bundle: 2 fully editable PowerPoint lessons Retrieval and recap activities Coverage of major Tudor foreign policy events and developments Activities focused on analysis, interpretation and evaluation Exam-practice questions Writing frames, model answers and mark schemes Differentiated tasks and suggested teaching strategies Any reviews would be greatly appreciated!

£5.25

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