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ACT : Professional Association of Citizenship Teaching

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ACT is the professional subject association for those involved in citizenship education. This website offers resources and information to help you deliver excellent citizenship education.

ACT National Conference Monday 30th June 2008 - deadline extended. Click here for details.

Teaching war

Why conflict studies should be central to every citizenship programme

If through citizenship education our aim is to teach young people about the world around them and help them better understand the global community in which they live, then it is essential that we address the issues of conflict.

At any one time they are an estimated 70 situations of current or potential conflict, many of which have a direct impact on the international community. In fact when studying many key global issues such as poverty, displacement and inequality, the root cause too often leads back to war and the devastating effect that it can have on a countries population.

Tackling current events in the classroom allows citizenship leaders to engage students in events that they are already exposed to in the media and will have, most likely, already begun to form opinions about. Providing young people with a safe and supportive environment in which they can explore their views and become informed, critical thinkers, ensures that the key concepts of the curriculum are being taught in a way that is relevant and interesting to them.

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All the latest citizenship news & info

FREE Young Citizens' Action Event 10th July

25 June 2008

The Institute for Citizenship, supported by the BBC and together with various high profile partners, is organising a groundbreaking event in London for 2,000 young citizens aged 16-19. You and your students are invited to come to the FREE afternoon event to discuss: Why Politics Matters; Why Money Matters and Why Citizenship Matters.

FREE Mi-Voice access with your ACT membership in 2008-9

24 June 2008

Mi-Voice Participation is a secure electronic voting and consultation tool that allows Teachers to run different types of democratic event including elections, referendums and consultations. Once you've set-up the "event" pupils can take part online or by sending a text message.

Mi-Voice Participation will be made available to all ACT members free of charge as of September 2008 for any teaching activity. See Mi-Voice Website for details

Citizenship Webcast live this month!

12 June 2008

A unique online opportunity to share your views and ask questions about Citizenship and the new curriculum runs from June 9 - June 20 at www.newsecondarycurriculum.org

Just register at the site, navigate to the Citizenship Resource Library and click on 'Ideas Exchange'. Pete Pattisson, the National Subject Lead for the New Citizenship Curriculum, will host the online discussion and respond to your comments and questions

> read through past new items

Forthcoming Conferences & Events

09 Jun 08 - 30 Jun 08

Citizenship Webcast

Online

09 Jun 08 - 16 Jul 08

Snapshots of China (KS2 and 3)

London

23 Jun 08 - 28 Jun 08

Who Do We Think We Are? Week

Schools across the nation

26 Jun 08 - 26 Jun 08

Global learning & the new KS3 curriculum - critically engaging with contemporary issues

Millennium Point, Birmingham

30 Jun 08 - 30 Jun 08

ACT Annual Conference

Co-op Manchester

10 Jul 08 - 10 Jul 08

Young Citizens Action Event

Central Hall, Westminster

> Browse all forthcoming events

Ask the Experts - Your Questions Answered

Featured Question :-

I've been teaching Citizenship for a few years now, but am moving to a new school where I've now been asked to teach PSHE as well! I'm a bit concerned about how best to deliver these two together as I've always heard that Citizenship is best taught as a discrete subject. I know a lot of schools deliver the two together, but I've never experienced it before. Can you advise me?

These two subjects are often thrown together, but usually for managerial reasons, rather than academic ones. They have a different pedagogy, a different purpose and different outcomes. They also have very different content. While there are overlaps with Citizenship (and clever planning would see some spiralling i.e. looking at an issue from a personal then a political perspective), there are just as many overlaps with other subjects. Therefore, it is important to work towards discrete curriculum time for Citizenship. The first step may be to separate Citizenship and PSHE by for example, teaching Citizenship in Term 1 and PSHE in Term 2. Or by teaching a Citizenship module followed by a PSHE one. This can be done without any changes to the timetable or staffing. It is very important to be clear with colleagues and students about this separation and to name it correctly, clearly and consistently. Make sure your colleagues and students can name and explain the difference. If you use exercise books, give out different ones in different colours for each subject. Make your display boards distinct too. Report on the subjects separately and discuss them separately at parents’ evening. And then, having strengthened the identity of Citizenship, work towards finding discrete curriculum time for it.

Pete Pattisson, National Subject Lead for Citizenship

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