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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

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ACT National Conference 29th June 2010

This is an active CPD day called:

We are facing a democratic crisis – an unprecedented loss of public faith in politics, politicians and the democratic process.
And when democracy fails, we all lose out, but it’s the poorest and weakest who lose out the most;
This may also open the door to more extreme political parties;
And threatens to undermine the progress that has been made through Citizenship education;
Citizenship education, “aims for no less than a change in the political culture of this country.”
In the latest longitudinal study report, Citizenship teachers identified teaching of democracy and government as one of the most difficult subject areas.

The day will help support your teaching of political literacy. It's a fun day where you will learn everything you need to know to teach about the UK Parliament, the EU parliament, local government, democracy, voting systems and more...

Full information for teachers and for exhibitors or BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW

Citizenship Established?

Ofsted's report on Citizenship education

Last month Ofsted published their latest report on Citizenship education: Citizenship Established? Ofsted’s previous report ‘Towards Consensus?’ (2006) painted a picture of a subject at the ‘developing’ stage, only grade three on the four point scale of the ‘Citizenship self evaluation tool’*. ‘Citizenship Established?’ (Ofsted, 2010) leaves the reader with a question mark- but if the answer is yes, then citizenship is moving into grade 2 territory.

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All the latest citizenship news & info

The Toolkit for the Centenary Challenge

17 March 2010

An exciting learning activity to explore one hundred years of helping people into work since 1910.

The DWP together with the Association for Citizenship Teaching launched a national challenge activity for secondary schools children across the country to mark the anniversary. The challenge asks pupils to explore the role of the state in supporting unemployed young people, and to create a digital presentation of their findings that will be entered in the national challenge. The winners of the competition will receive a cash prize. More details can be found in the Toolkit for the Centenary Challenge WebPages at The Centenary Challenge Toolkit

Digital news archive!

16 March 2010

British Pathe have launched the world's first finest digital news archive. This is a brilliant teaching resource! You can view film clips from the entire archive which covers news, sport, social history and entertainment from 1896 to 1970.

Use the “search archives” function to type in local landmarks or areas/boroughs and see what has been recorded on film from there. The film clips are great to use in class to get pupils thinking about what used to happen in the local area, how things have changed, local/national identity etc. Film Archive

Young Human Rights Reporter of the Year

15 March 2010

Pupils are asked to submit a human rights article of 200-250 words, either from personal experience (eg, bullying, being a refugee or being involved in a campaign) or their interpretation of a human rights news story. The Guardian Learnnewsdesk and Amnesty are looking for a Young Human Rights Reporter of the Year. The closing date for entries is 1 April 2010.

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Forthcoming Conferences & Events

17 Mar 10 - 31 Dec 10

TEENAGERS EXPLAIN POLITICS ON BBC LEARNING

online

19 Mar 10

Youth Producing Change

The Ritzy, Brixton Oval, London

20 Mar 10

Youth Producing Change

ICA, The Mall, London

20 Mar 10

Big Saturdays for London, Yorkshire/Humberside and North West/Manchester Hubs

See Regional Hub pages

24 Apr 10

Big Saturday CPD course meetings for London, Midlands and Cumbria Hubs

See details on Regional pages for each Hub

29 Jun 10

ACT National Conference POLITICAL X-FACTOR

University of London Union

> browse all FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Ask the Experts - Your Questions Answered

Featured Question :-

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

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