ACT’s Response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review
Read ACT’s Response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review and guidance to support your own response
The Association for Citizenship Teaching (ACT) has released a short summary of its response to the Department for Education’s Curriculum and Assessment Review, which aims to shape the future of the national curriculum. This review, led by Becky Francis, presents a crucial opportunity to re-prioritise Citizenship as a core subject that equips young people with the knowledge and skills to navigate democracy, society, and an evolving world.
In alignment with ACT’s Make Space for Citizenship campaign, our response advocates for the recognition of Citizenship as an essential, statutory subject throughout all key stages. We highlight four key priorities for the curriculum review: reaffirming Citizenship in the National Curriculum, establishing universal access across primary to post-16 education, retaining and enhancing GCSE Citizenship Studies, and creating clear curriculum progression that includes topics like democracy, human rights, and media literacy.
This summary follows the insights shared in our recent Make Space for Citizenship panel event on November 12, where educators, students, and experts discussed the importance of Citizenship in a balanced, inclusive curriculum. Our response builds on these discussions, as well as feedback gathered from previous ACT events and research, consultations with our Council, and educators and organisations nationwide.
We encourage all teachers, supporters, and champions of Citizenship education to submit their own responses to the review. To assist, we’ve included specific guidance on completing the DfE response form, with practical tips and key points for emphasising the importance of Citizenship. This is a critical moment to ensure that Citizenship remains a priority in schools, fostering a generation of informed, active citizens. Read our summary and guidance by clicking the link below.
Read our full response
ACT have now submitted our full response the Department for Education’s Curriculum and Assessment Review. You can access the full document below.
