
Lords Debate Underscores Urgency for Citizenship in Curriculum Review
The recent House of Lords debate on the Values of British Citizenship Bill highlighted the vital role of Citizenship education.
The recent House of Lords debate on the Education (Values of British Citizenship) Bill highlighted the vital role of Citizenship education at a time of change. The discussion focused on the importance of equipping young people with the knowledge and skills to engage in democracy, with several key speakers emphasising the need for a renewed commitment to Citizenship within schools.
Lord David Blunkett, ACT’s Honorary President, stressed the urgency of supporting Citizenship education, particularly through better training for teachers and targeted support for the Citizenship GCSE. Reflecting on the challenges of social unrest and misinformation, he highlighted that strengthening Citizenship teaching is essential for building a more cohesive society.
If we are to make this work... we need to move quickly... and we must train teachers, we must give bursaries... to enable that to take place.
Lord David Blunkett
ACT Honourary President
Other speakers, including Lord Wallace of Saltaire and Baroness Shephard of Northwold, echoed the need for a more defined focus on Citizenship in schools. Lord Wallace emphasised that “public trust in democratic institutions has declined,” stressing the need for education to build understanding of democracy and mutual respect. Baroness Shephard noted that Citizenship education should not be overshadowed by broader PSHE programs, warning that this risks “ignoring the political element of being a citizen.” She also referenced ACT stating that ‘Rather alarmingly, the Lords Liaison Committee heard in 2022 from the Association for Citizenship Teaching that “there was a general lack of … understanding of the subject by inspectors of what Citizenship is”. Lord Carter of Haslemere referenced the lack of focus on teaching human rights, noting “There is a reference to human rights in the requirements for key stage 4, but we know from two House of Lords committees of inquiry, in 2018 and 2022, that this and the teaching of other constituent elements of citizenship have been badly neglected.”
The debate concluded with Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab), the Minister of State for Education, affirming the government’s commitment to promoting values through the education system. She emphasised the importance of equipping young people with the knowledge and skills to engage with democracy and this government’s support for continuing the National Curriculum for Citizenship in schools. She also acknowledged the need to update the current values statement and address the shortage of specialist and trained Citizenship teachers. The debate showed widespread support across the Lords for the Bill’s intentions and a shared recognition of the need to strengthen citizenship education across schools and settings in England.
Labour Governments have a proud history of promoting British values across our education system. We were the first Government to introduce mandatory citizenship education into the national curriculum under the leadership of my noble friend Lord Blunkett—with me as a lowly junior Minister at the time doing some of the legwork. This Government will continue that tradition to ensure that our children and young people are supported to become active and engaged citizens… It is also crucial that we have sufficient appropriately qualified teachers. It is the case that the number of specialist teachers has fallen over recent years. This Government have a commitment, both in their recruitment of 6,500 additional teachers and in the approach to professional development for classroom teachers and leaders, to ensure that teachers are equipped to deliver what we believe to be important in schools. This area of citizenship is certainly, in my view, one of those areas.
Rt Hon Baroness Jacqui Smith
Minister of State (Education)
The Association for Citizenship Teaching (ACT) believes that the time is now to Make Space for Citizenship. As the curriculum review progresses, ACT urges the Department for Education to seize this opportunity to ensure that Citizenship is enhanced in schools.
Have Your Say on the Future of Citizenship Education
With the Department for Education’s Curriculum and Assessment Review underway, this is a critical time for Citizenship education. We want to hear from those at the heart of this work—teachers, educators, and school leaders. Your insights will help shape our response to the review and ensure that Citizenship remains a key priority for every school. Please take a few minutes to complete our survey and share your perspectives on the changes needed to strengthen the Citizenship curriculum. Share your views here.
And don’t miss our upcoming online panel discussion, Make Space for Citizenship, where experts and practitioners will explore the opportunities the review presents. Join us as we discuss how a refreshed curriculum can better prepare students to thrive as engaged citizens in today’s world.
Submit your survey responses by Sunday, 3 November 2024, and register now for our panel discussion to ensure your voice is part of this important conversation. Register for the panel discussion here.