diff --git a/public/translations/en.json b/public/translations/en.json
index eec4fa86a..1c7a8e45f 100644
--- a/public/translations/en.json
+++ b/public/translations/en.json
@@ -96,21 +96,50 @@
   },
   "instructionsPanel": {
     "demoInstructions": {
-      "title": "How instructions work",
-      "enablingInstructions": "Enabling instructions",
-      "visible": "Any text written here will be visible to students in the sidebar.",
-      "writingInstructions": "Writing instructions",
-      "markdown": "Write your instructions using [Markdown](https://www.markdownguide.org/).",
-      "whatYouCanDo": "What you can do",
-      "lists": "Lists",
-      "bulletPoints": "Bullet points",
-      "numberedSteps": "Numbered steps"
+      "title": "How to use instructions",
+      "replaceThisText": "Replace this text with your own instructions. Anything you write here appears in the sidebar for your students.",
+      "writtenInMarkdown": "Instructions are written in Markdown. Switch between the **Edit** and **View** tabs to see how each example below was written, or read our [instructions guide](https://help.editor.raspberrypi.org/hc/en-us/articles/52495086715028-How-to-write-project-instructions).",
+      "studentCopyWarning": "Students get their own copy of a project when they start it, so changes you make later will not reach anyone who has already started.",
+      "formattingTextHeading": "Formatting text",
+      "bold": "**Bold text** draws attention to a word.",
+      "italic": "_Italic text_ is useful for emphasis.",
+      "boldItalic": "**_Bold and italic_** works too.",
+      "strikethrough": "~~Strikethrough~~ shows something that has changed.",
+      "lineBreaks": "A backslash at the end of a line starts a new line, as above. A blank line starts a new paragraph. Three dashes on their own line draw a divider, like the one above.",
+      "headingsHeading": "Headings",
+      "headings": "Start a line with `##`, and add more `#` characters for smaller headings — like the headings in this document.",
+      "listsHeading": "Lists",
+      "addSprite": "Add a sprite",
+      "addBackdrop": "Add a backdrop",
+      "nestList": "Indent by two spaces to put a list inside a list",
+      "openFile": "Open the file `main.py`",
+      "typeCode": "Type your code",
+      "clickRun": "Click **Run**",
+      "linksHeading": "Links",
+      "links": "Link to a website like this: [Raspberry Pi Foundation](https://www.raspberrypi.org).",
+      "codeHeading": "Code",
+      "codeIntro": "In Python and Web projects you might want to include some example code in your instructions.",
+      "inlineCode": "Use single backticks for code in a sentence:",
+      "inlineCodeExample": "The `print()` function shows a message.",
+      "codeBlocks": "For longer code, use three backticks and name the language. `python`, `html`, `css` or `javascript`:",
+      "pythonPrompt": "What is your name?",
+      "pythonNameVar": "name",
+      "pythonGreeting": "Hello, ",
+      "blocksHeading": "Blocks code",
+      "blocksIntro": "In a Blocks project you might want to reference a particular type of block in your instructions. You can highlight words with the same colour that's used for the block type itself:",
+      "blocksColourExample": "Get a block from the `Looks`{:block-type=\"looks\"} section.",
+      "blocksTypes": "The [instructions guide](https://help.editor.raspberrypi.org/hc/en-us/articles/52495086715028-How-to-write-project-instructions#h_01M0034Z2SSTYV4W3CQZ4JCV3A) lists all types you can use.",
+      "blocksExample": "You might also want to include an example of blocks. To do this use `blocks` as the language name in a code block:",
+      "blocksGreeting": "Hello!",
+      "blockSyntaxReference": "For more information on how to write blocks as text, see the [block syntax reference](https://en.scratch-wiki.info/wiki/Block_Plugin/Syntax).",
+      "turningOffFormattingHeading": "Turning off formatting",
+      "turningOffFormatting": "\\_A backslash before a symbol stops it formatting\\_, so this is not italic."
     },
     "emptyState": {
       "addInstructions": "Add instructions",
       "edits": "Like project code, students will not see any edits you make to the instructions after they have saved their version of the project.",
       "location": "These instructions will be shown to students in their project sidebar and will be view-only.",
-      "markdown": "Instructions are written in <0>markdown</0>.",
+      "markdown": "Instructions are written in markdown. See our <0>guide</0> for more help",
       "purpose": "Instructions can be added to your project to guide students."
     },
     "addStep": "Add a step",
@@ -120,6 +149,7 @@
     "previousStep": "Previous step",
     "stepCounter": "{{currentStep}} of {{totalSteps}}",
     "projectSteps": "Project instructions",
+    "guideLink": "View instructions guide",
     "edit": "Edit",
     "view": "View",
     "removeStepModal": {
diff --git a/src/assets/markdown/demoInstructions.md b/src/assets/markdown/demoInstructions.md
index c27b9ecca..722153be1 100644
--- a/src/assets/markdown/demoInstructions.md
+++ b/src/assets/markdown/demoInstructions.md
@@ -1,19 +1,72 @@
 # {{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.title}}
 
-## {{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.enablingInstructions}}
+{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.replaceThisText}}
 
-{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.visible}}
+{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.writtenInMarkdown}}
 
-## {{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.writingInstructions}}
+**{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.studentCopyWarning}}**
 
-{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.markdown}}
+---
 
-### {{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.whatYouCanDo}}
+## {{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.formattingTextHeading}}
 
-{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.lists}}:
+{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.bold}}\
+{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.italic}}\
+{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.boldItalic}}\
+{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.strikethrough}}
 
-- {{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.bulletPoints}}
-- {{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.bulletPoints}}
+{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.lineBreaks}}
 
-1. {{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.numberedSteps}}
-2. {{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.numberedSteps}}
+## {{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.headingsHeading}}
+
+{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.headings}}
+
+## {{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.listsHeading}}
+
+- {{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.addSprite}}
+- {{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.addBackdrop}}
+  - {{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.nestList}}
+
+1. {{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.openFile}}
+2. {{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.typeCode}}
+3. {{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.clickRun}}
+
+## {{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.linksHeading}}
+
+{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.links}}
+
+## {{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.codeHeading}}
+
+{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.codeIntro}}
+
+{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.inlineCode}}
+
+{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.inlineCodeExample}}
+
+{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.codeBlocks}}
+
+```python
+{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.pythonNameVar}} = input("{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.pythonPrompt}} ")
+print("{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.pythonGreeting}}" + {{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.pythonNameVar}})
+```
+
+## {{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.blocksHeading}}
+
+{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.blocksIntro}}
+
+{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.blocksColourExample}}
+
+{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.blocksTypes}}
+
+{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.blocksExample}}
+
+```blocks
+when green flag clicked
+say [{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.blocksGreeting}}] for (2) seconds
+```
+
+{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.blockSyntaxReference}}
+
+## {{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.turningOffFormattingHeading}}
+
+{{instructionsPanel.demoInstructions.turningOffFormatting}}
diff --git a/src/assets/stylesheets/InternalStyles.scss b/src/assets/stylesheets/InternalStyles.scss
index 9fdbb5f8a..59aa2557e 100644
--- a/src/assets/stylesheets/InternalStyles.scss
+++ b/src/assets/stylesheets/InternalStyles.scss
@@ -108,6 +108,14 @@
 
   --editor-color-tab-background: var(--editor-color-layer-3);
 
+  // Design System
+
+  // Link (.rpf-link)
+
+  --link-color: var(--editor-color-theme);
+  --link-color-hover: color-mix(in srgb, var(--editor-color-theme), white 15%);
+  --link-color-active: color-mix(in srgb, var(--editor-color-theme), white 30%);
+
   // Primary button
   --rpf-button-text-color: var(--rpf-black);
   --rpf-button-background-color: var(--editor-color-theme);
diff --git a/src/components/Menus/Sidebar/InstructionsPanel/InstructionsPanel.jsx b/src/components/Menus/Sidebar/InstructionsPanel/InstructionsPanel.jsx
index 00e85325e..e9f53558d 100644
--- a/src/components/Menus/Sidebar/InstructionsPanel/InstructionsPanel.jsx
+++ b/src/components/Menus/Sidebar/InstructionsPanel/InstructionsPanel.jsx
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ import InstructionsStep from "./InstructionsStep/InstructionsStep";
 import ProgressBar from "./ProgressBar/ProgressBar";
 import BinIcon from "../../../../assets/icons/bin.svg";
 
+const INSTRUCTIONS_GUIDE_URL =
+  "https://help.editor.raspberrypi.org/hc/en-us/articles/52495086715028-How-to-write-project-instructions";
+
 const InstructionsPanel = () => {
   const [tabIndex, setTabIndex] = useState(0);
   const [showRemoveStepModal, setShowRemoveStepModal] = useState(false);
@@ -106,6 +109,18 @@ const InstructionsPanel = () => {
             ]
           : []
       }
+      headerContent={
+        instructionsEditable && hasInstructions ? (
+          <a
+            className="rpf-link"
+            href={INSTRUCTIONS_GUIDE_URL}
+            target="_blank"
+            rel="noreferrer"
+          >
+            {t("instructionsPanel.guideLink")}
+          </a>
+        ) : undefined
+      }
       Footer={
         hasInstructions && (hasMultipleSteps || onEditTab)
           ? () => <ProgressBar panelRef={panelRef} />
@@ -173,7 +188,7 @@ const InstructionsPanel = () => {
                   i18nKey="instructionsPanel.emptyState.markdown"
                   components={[
                     <a
-                      href="https://www.markdownguide.org/cheat-sheet/"
+                      href="https://help.editor.raspberrypi.org/hc/en-us/articles/52495086715028-How-to-write-project-instructions"
                       target="_blank"
                       rel="noreferrer"
                     />,
diff --git a/src/components/Menus/Sidebar/InstructionsPanel/InstructionsPanel.test.jsx b/src/components/Menus/Sidebar/InstructionsPanel/InstructionsPanel.test.jsx
index bf782bcf7..bfa47f5e8 100644
--- a/src/components/Menus/Sidebar/InstructionsPanel/InstructionsPanel.test.jsx
+++ b/src/components/Menus/Sidebar/InstructionsPanel/InstructionsPanel.test.jsx
@@ -106,6 +106,18 @@ describe("When instructionsEditable is true", () => {
         screen.queryByText("instructionsPanel.emptyState.addInstructions"),
       ).not.toBeInTheDocument();
     });
+
+    test("Renders a link to the how to write instructions guide", () => {
+      const link = screen.getByRole("link", {
+        name: "instructionsPanel.guideLink",
+      });
+
+      expect(link).toHaveAttribute(
+        "href",
+        "https://help.editor.raspberrypi.org/hc/en-us/articles/52495086715028-How-to-write-project-instructions",
+      );
+      expect(link).toHaveAttribute("target", "_blank");
+    });
   });
 
   describe("Adding and removing steps", () => {
@@ -268,6 +280,7 @@ describe("When instructionsEditable is true", () => {
             instructionsEditable: true,
           },
           instructions: {
+            permitOverride: true,
             project: {
               steps: [],
             },
@@ -301,6 +314,24 @@ describe("When instructionsEditable is true", () => {
         screen.queryByText("instructionsPanel.emptyState.purpose"),
       ).toBeInTheDocument();
     });
+
+    test("Does not render the guide link in the panel header", () => {
+      expect(
+        screen.queryByRole("link", { name: "instructionsPanel.guideLink" }),
+      ).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    test("Adding instructions reveals the guide link", () => {
+      act(() => {
+        fireEvent.click(
+          screen.getByText("instructionsPanel.emptyState.addInstructions"),
+        );
+      });
+
+      expect(
+        screen.getByRole("link", { name: "instructionsPanel.guideLink" }),
+      ).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
   });
 });
 
@@ -335,6 +366,12 @@ describe("When instructions are not editable", () => {
       ).not.toBeInTheDocument();
     });
 
+    test("Does not render the how to write instructions guide link", () => {
+      expect(
+        screen.queryByRole("link", { name: "instructionsPanel.guideLink" }),
+      ).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
     test("It renders without crashing", () => {
       expect(
         screen.queryByText("instructionsPanel.projectSteps"),
@@ -390,6 +427,12 @@ describe("When instructions are not editable", () => {
       });
     });
 
+    test("Does not render the how to write instructions guide link", () => {
+      expect(
+        screen.queryByRole("link", { name: "instructionsPanel.guideLink" }),
+      ).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
     test("Renders no tab titles", () => {
       expect(screen.queryAllByRole("tab")).toHaveLength(0);
     });
diff --git a/src/components/Menus/Sidebar/SidebarPanel.jsx b/src/components/Menus/Sidebar/SidebarPanel.jsx
index d147f2de1..713eead77 100644
--- a/src/components/Menus/Sidebar/SidebarPanel.jsx
+++ b/src/components/Menus/Sidebar/SidebarPanel.jsx
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ const SidebarPanel = (props) => {
     Footer,
     className,
     buttons,
+    headerContent,
     panelRef,
     defaultWidth = "320px",
   } = props;
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ const SidebarPanel = (props) => {
         {buttons && !buttonsIsEmptyArray && (
           <div className="sidebar__panel-buttons">{buttons}</div>
         )}
+        {headerContent}
       </div>
       <div ref={panelRef} className="sidebar__panel-content">
         {children}
@@ -62,6 +64,7 @@ SidebarPanel.propTypes = {
   heading: PropTypes.string.isRequired,
   className: PropTypes.string,
   buttons: PropTypes.arrayOf(PropTypes.node),
+  headerContent: PropTypes.node,
 };
 
 export default SidebarPanel;
diff --git a/src/components/Menus/Sidebar/SidebarPanel.test.jsx b/src/components/Menus/Sidebar/SidebarPanel.test.jsx
index f1ec1ee36..7555eab66 100644
--- a/src/components/Menus/Sidebar/SidebarPanel.test.jsx
+++ b/src/components/Menus/Sidebar/SidebarPanel.test.jsx
@@ -33,6 +33,29 @@ test("Renders a single button", () => {
   expect(screen.queryByText("button")).toBeInTheDocument();
 });
 
+test("Renders arbitrary header content", () => {
+  render(
+    <SidebarPanel heading="heading" headerContent={<a href="/x">a link</a>}>
+      some content
+    </SidebarPanel>,
+  );
+  expect(screen.queryByRole("link", { name: "a link" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+});
+
+test("Renders header content alongside buttons", () => {
+  render(
+    <SidebarPanel
+      heading="heading"
+      buttons={[<button key="1">button</button>]}
+      headerContent={<p>header note</p>}
+    >
+      some content
+    </SidebarPanel>,
+  );
+  expect(screen.queryByText("button")).toBeInTheDocument();
+  expect(screen.queryByText("header note")).toBeInTheDocument();
+});
+
 test("Renders multiple buttons", () => {
   render(
     <SidebarPanel