Citizenship
'Citizenship offers all schools the opportunity to celebrate their communities. It enriches the curriculum and empowers pupils as active citizens.'
(Sarah Davies, Citizenship coordinator, St Michael's RC School, Billingham)
Citizenship education is about helping young people understand the rights and responsibilities they have as members of society. It recognises and builds on the excellent work that already goes on in many primary, special and secondary schools, and makes it an entitlement for all pupils. It is an opportunity to develop the sort of activities that inspired many teachers to join the teaching profession.
In September 2002, citizenship education became a statutory part of the National Curriculum in secondary schools, building on the important work developed through the PSHE and Citizenship Framework in primary schools.
Citizenship education update
A working party of teachers, advisers, citizenship organisations and others mapped out a package of support for schools to help them put citizenship into the school curriculum. The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA), the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) and Ofsted were all represented on the working party. The purpose of this update is to inform you of key developments and support available to schools.
Citizenship is a statutory subject at Key Stages 3 and 4 (secondary). It is part of a non-statutory framework at Key Stages 1 and 2 (primary). There are also plans underway for post-16. Citizenship education at Key Stage 3 and 4 has these key concepts:
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Democracy and justice — This focuses on the role that citizens can take within the political and justice systems in the UK. It includes: freedom as part of a democracy; fairness and the rule of law as part of justice; power and authority; and accountability. Pupils learn that accountability happens at many levels ranging from a responsible opposition in parliament challenging, testing and scrutinising what Government is doing, to citizens in local communities challenging decisions that affect them.
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Rights and responsibilities — There are different kinds of rights, obligations and responsibilities — political, legal, human, social, civic and moral. Pupils explore contested areas surrounding rights and responsibilities, for the checks and balances needed in relation to freedom of speech in the context of threats from extremism and terrorism.
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Identities and diversity — Living together in the UK: This includes the multiple identities that may be held by groups and communities in a diverse society, and the ways in which these identities are affected by changes in society, for example, pupils could learn about: how migration has shaped communities; common or shared identity and what unifies groups and communities; and how living together in the UK has been shaped by, and continues to be shaped by, political, social, economic and cultural changes.
Citizenship gives pupils the knowledge, skills and understanding to play an effective role in society. It helps them to become informed, thoughtful and responsible citizens aware of duties and rights. It promotes their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, making them more self-confident. It encourages pupils to play a helpful part in the life of their school, community and world.
'Active participation in more democratic school communities...is associated with higher attainment and lower exclusion.' (Derry Hannam, Phoenix Education Trust)
Where and how does citizenship education happen?
Everywhere. It's up to schools to plan the delivery of citizenship. It can happen:
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through a whole-school approach in curriculum time
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via dedicated citizenship lessons
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through existing subjects, e.g. PSHE education, history, geography, RE and science
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through the National Healthy School Standard Initiative
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through the Key Stage 3 Strategy
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in extra-curricular activities and special events
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in the community
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at home
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through volunteering.
Becta: Curriculum entitlement documents
Becta has produced a set of documents on the use of ICT across the curriculum. Each of these documents provides:
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an explanation of how ICT supports curriculum teaching and learning
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a set of lesson ideas by key stage
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links to the National Curriculum and QCA schemes of work.
ICT in primary citizenship: A pupil's entitlement
This document describes a series of lessons on a variety of topics,
such as:
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saving the rainforest
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thinking about Remembrance Day
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the power of voting.
ICT in secondary citizenship: A pupil's
entitlement
This document includes a number of 'Active citizenship projects'
that make use of ICT, such as:
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picking a local issue and developing a plan for change
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campaigning for issues that affect pupils
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making short videos about an issue to be streamed on the web.
You can access the entitlement documents from the resources page.
Available support
QCDA has sent support materials to all schools. This includes schemes of work for citizenship education allowing schools to teach the required programmes of study in numerous ways, to build on good practice and continue to be innovative. The schemes support and illustrate how citizenship can be taught through other subjects, as a discrete subject and through additional timetable activities. They include:
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examples of good practice, e.g. community involvement
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guidance on curriculum planning
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references to useful resource materials for schools.
The package also includes tips for schools on extending opportunities for young people to become actively involved and learn through the experience.
Funding
The DCSF is continuing to allocate money directly to schools for citizenship via the School Standards Fund. It is entirely up to the schools to decide how to spend the money. Suggestions include in-service training and resources. Ask your citizenship coordinator for details or check the DCSF guidance.
Assessment
As of summer 2004, schools have to assess students' attainment in citizenship at Key Stage 3. Assessment at Key Stage 4 is not statutory. Ofsted will be inspecting citizenship.
Last updated: 16 December 2009
