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Find yourself teaching Citizenship and need help?

You're not alone.

Many schools still use non-specialists to teach Citizenship. This is a challenge for them and the Citizenship subject leader. However it's a reality. Some non-specialists even find themselves as subject leader for Citizenship education.

What is Citizenship education?

You could do worse than start with our information about what Citizenship really is! Everyone thinks they already know the answer, but just check and make sure you have the full picture - it’s not a simple answer and you need to be able to explain the different aspects that Citizenship education is concerned with.

This page includes explanations on how Citizenship links to Every Child Matters, to the school's duty to promote community cohesion and the duty to prevent violent extremism. It also explains the relationship with PSHE. The link to the page is below.

We aim at no less than a change in the political culture of this country… for people to think of themselves as active citizens, willing, able and equipped to have an influence in public life. The Crick Report, 1998

Self Evaluation Tool

ACT suggests you use the School Self Evaluation Tool for Citizenship. There is a Primary PSHE and Citizenship version and a Secondary Citizenship version. With this you can find out where the school is with Citizenship, what's going well and what needs more work. There are plenty of examples of how to get to where you want to be.

The resource is can be download it for free at the bottom of this page.

Assessment

The eight-level scale was introduced in 2007 it was then revised and the revision was subsequently discarded.

For Key Stage three schools should therefore now be using the unrevised scales which have been reproduced in issue 28 of Teaching Citizenship. (ACT members can log in to see them here)

For KS4 assessment, the advice is to make use of the 8 level scale as with key stage 3 BUT there is no requirement to provide a level at the end of KS4 - only KS3. Also, it is important to ensure that teachers provide a report at the end of KS4 against progress because all other subjects do BUT no level. There is guidance on the Citizenship Curriculum site at Curriculum for KS3&4 and at Planning and Assessment

The end of key stage statement is no longer used as we are now using the levels this school year.

CPD

ACT is able to come to your school to provide CPD for you and your teachers. We also have CPD days and events across the country throughout the year.

This will enable you to have a specialist team to deliver Citizenship education at your school. It will help motivate teachers and help them feel confident about delivering the National Curriculum for Citizenship as well as delivering the school's statutory duties.

Become a member of ACT

The Curriculum

In the primary curriculum there is a non-statutory framework for teaching Citizenship and PSHE. Details are below.

In the secondary curriculum Citizenship should be taught as a discrete subject where possible. If not then ensure that the experience that students get is thorough and meaningful and that they can identify Citizenship even if it is taught with other subjects, within PSHE or using some drop down days.

Concise information through the link below.

ACT is here to help you

You can submit any questions to this website and read through what others have already asked us. Ask the experts

Please join the Citizenship education community by joining ACT. As a member of ACT we can give you direct, in-school support and advice. There are lots of further benefits...

Membership of ACT offers you:

  • Regular email updates to keep your subject & professional knowledge bang up to date
  • Printed journal Teaching Citizenship in the post once a term
  • Specialist advice to support your teaching
  • INSET and CPD opportunities
  • Discounts on regional & national Citizenship workshops & events
  • Discounts on useful materials
  • Members only area of website
  • Help finding resources

Good Luck!

What is Citizenship Education

School Self Evaluation Tool for Citizenship (secondary)

Citizenship CPD - get qualified

Primary Curriculum: Historical, Geographical and Social Understanding.

The Secondary Curriculum for Citizenship

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ACT

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Site Last Updated : Wed, 22 May 13

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