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About ACT

graphic of citizenship books

Five Nations Network

The Five Nations Network brings together practitioners, policy-makers, teacher educators, inspectors, stakeholders, NGO representatives and, more recently, young people from across the Five Nations (i.e. from England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) who have unique, in-depth and up-to-date expertise in education for citizenship and values. They share practice and learn from each other.

Citizenship and values education has come a long way in the Five Nations. A decade ago it was largely an aspiration and plans were being considered and drawn up in each of the countries. Since then, and in rapid succession, those plans have come to fruition across the five countries and created a real and visible edifice for citizenship and values education with actual policies, evolving practices and growing support networks, such as the Five Nations. As a result:

  • In England, Citizenship is a statutory subject in schools
  • In Ireland, Civic Social and Political Education (CSPE) is statutory during junior cycle in schools
  • In Northern Ireland, Local and Global Citizenship is a statutory subject in schools
  • In Scotland, Values and Citizenship is one of the Five National Priorities in Education
  • In Wales, Citizenship is part of the statutory provision for Personal and Social Education (PSE) and Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship (ESDGC)

Despite considerable differences in culture, history and approach to citizenship and values education in each of the Five Nations, the broad context driving current developments is similar and with it come similar challenges and concerns in each educational system.

This commonality of experience provides the Five Nations Network with a strong foundation upon which to discuss and share outcomes. It gives the Network a growing confidence in setting the agenda for citizenship and values education and promoting action.

The Network is supported by the Institute for Global Ethics UK Trust and sponsored by the Gordon Cook Foundation.


Useful Documents - Right click to download

The Five Nations Network Call to Action 2009

Uploaded : 22 September 2009

Filename : 5_nations_call_to_action_090.pdf ( 963 K )

Description : A summary document detailing the joint call to action on Citizenship and Values education by Citizenship and Values educators from England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales jointly issued across all five nations on September 23rd 2009.

Executive summary from 2008 Five Nations Conference

Uploaded : 22 September 2009

Filename : 5_nations_exec_sum_090.pdf ( 1.68 MB )

Description : Details of the outcomes from the 2009 Citizenship and Values Education Five Nations Conference held in Glasgow

Full Report from the Five Nations Network Conference 2007

Uploaded : 22 September 2009

Filename : five_nations_network_conference_2007.pdf ( 607 K )

Description : The full report from the Five Nations Network Citizenship and Values Education Conference in Leeds in 2007


Associated Organisations

www.citizenshipfoundation.org.uk www.csv.org.uk