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ACT National Conference

Tickets Now On Sale

NATIONAL CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION CONFERENCE

Relaunching Citizenship: A day of CPD for Citizenship teachers and education professionals.

The 2013 ACT conference is an opportunity to celebrate the continued growth of Citizenship and will help you prepare to teach the new Citizenship curriculum and bring you up to speed on the latest changes to the subject.

Choose from a range of workshops and seminars that will equip you with fresh ideas and resources. These are tailored to the big themes and issues of the new curriculum. Displays of resources by leading publishers and NGOs will enable you to browse the best products that make Citizenship such a vibrant school subject for pupils.

Our keynote speaker will be David Blunkett MP, political founder of Citizenship Education and a key ally in maintaining the status of the Citizenship in the new curriculum

Book your place now.

Many more announcements to come - watch this space.

> read more

CPD With The Holocaust Education Trust

15 May 2013

Teachers from secondary schools and colleges across England are invited to take part in a teacher only Lessons from Auschwitz course. These four-part professional development courses are for secondary or post-16 teachers of any subject area.

There are still places available on our courses in both Manchester and London. The application deadline is Friday 24th May. Go here to apply.

ACT is recruiting new Trustees

26 April 2013

ACT wants to recruit new Trustees to its Board to expand and enhance the expertise available to the Charity. We are particularly keen to recruit those who are committed to ACT’s mission and strategic aims, can contribute actively to the Board’s role in setting the overall strategic direction of the organisation to help ensure the organisation meets its objectives, is well managed, is in line with legal obligations and is financially sustainable and provide support and advice to staff in delivering ACT’s agreed programmes work.

ACT would especially like to hear from those who have knowledge and experience in finance, human resources, business development, fund raising and how the law affects charities.

Download more information here.

ACT Council submit commentary to DfE consultation.

17 April 2013

ACT Council submitted its commentary on the Citizenship draft PoS to DfE this week. The consultation closed on Tuesday April 16th. ACT is delighted that at least 130 submissions came from Democratic Life supporters, thus enhancing the overall focus on Citizenship within the curriculum review. ACT Council also commented on the absence of clarity regarding Citizenship in Key Stages 1 and 2.

Now that the consultation on the curriculum has ended, ACT expects an announcement to be made later this school term and that new materials for teachers to use will be sent to schools for the Autumn term. Currently the Coalition government plan for the new curriculum to be taught from September 2014.

ACT Council and staff will be planning a full suite of support materials and activities for teachers from Autumn 2013. Details of these will emerge during the next few months. Most importantly, the ACT Conference on July 9th will have a focus on the big themes proposed in the new curriculum and provide an opportunity for members to discuss the new curriculum and its implications for schools, pupils and teaching. Do make sure that you attend to get the best and latest advice and support. Details of the ACT Conference can be read via this link

The ACT Council submission to the DfE can be read at the bottom of this page

> read through MORE NEWS ITEMS

22 Apr 13 - 25 Apr 13

Smart School Council Masterclass: One-day CPD training

Platform, Hornsey Road Baths, 260 Hornsey Road, London N7 7QT

17 May 13

The European Union: What's it all about? - University of Exeter

University of Exeter

06 Jul 13

Educating the Nation(s): The Politics of History, Education, and Identity in the UK

University of Huddersfield

09 Jul 13

ACT National Conference

University of London Union

> browse all FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Ask the Experts - Your Questions Answered

Featured Question :-

Question

How do I organise meaningful active Citizenship projects that involve a whole year of students?

Answer

It can be daunting organising active Citizenship projects with a whole year group but it can also be incredibly satisfying. The key to making this an entitlement for all students in a year group is to build these opportunities for action into schemes of work – if they are only run as after-school clubs you’ll never be able to involve everyone. Active citizenship should not be an add-on to Citizenship; it is the very essence of Citizenship!

There are lots of manageable actions students can do, here are some ideas:

Inviting decision makers from the local community into school to watch presentations by students

Making presentations to Senior Leaders or the School Council

Running campaigns in school (you can use a prominent notice board to publicise them)

Organising a Citizenship assembly (with relevant visitors) where all students are given the opportunity to give their opinion (make sure they are prepared)

Writing a letter/email to a local MP, company or organisation

Ideally, the schemes of work should have three components; students voice, students action and student reflection. The most compelling learning experiences in Citizenship:

- Give students a voice or choice in the learning process and/or content (but I wouldn’t recommend you leave it completely up to them!). For example, you might offer students three local issues to investigate, of which they must choose one.

- Give students the opportunity to DO something that aims to have an impact outside the classroom. Sticking up posters on the classroom wall will not help children feel politically powerful. You will only feel politically powerful by having a powerful experience of acting politically. That’s why the examples above are so important.

- this action builds the students’ sense of agency

- Give students the opportunity to reflect on how effective their action has been and why.

As with many things you’ve got 2 options; start with something that you are comfortable with, or jump in at the deep end and learn from your mistakes! Don’t forget that you can model your own learning to the students.

One project that I have found works well is ‘Your streets, Your say’ where students reflect on and find examples (taking photos) of things they like and don’t like about where they live. You could set this as homework over a holiday and get them to carry out a survey of family and friends who live in their area. If the students put this into a powerpoint presentation you could then either invite a local councillor in to watch the presentations or email/send their findings.

Give it a go and if you have any good ideas for manageable and meaningful active Citizenship projects don’t forget to post them on the ACT website.

Alice Carlisle, East Midlands RSA

> read more Q&A FROM OUR EXPERTS


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