Quality Standard for Citizenship

Planning, leading and managing Citizenship

The planning, leadership and management of Citizenship is key to the success of the subject in schools. Ofsted inspection evidence confirms that the best provision for Citizenship is seen where there is strong leadership and management of the subject, a well-planned curriculum and effectively coordinated teaching.

The Citizenship Quality Standard for Schools: Elevating Your Citizenship Provision

At the Association for Citizenship Teaching (ACT), we believe that quality citizenship education is essential for preparing young people to be informed, active citizens in modern society. The Citizenship Quality Standard for Schools is designed to support schools in reviewing, enhancing, and embedding high-quality Citizenship provision across their curriculum, while also aligning with key national education frameworks.

What does the Citizenship Quality Standard involve?

The Quality Standard process reflects ACT’s 9 Principles of Effective Citizenship Education and is closely aligned with the National Curriculum requirements for Citizenship and the Ofsted Inspection framework. Through this process, you will have access to specialist mentoring to help your school provide outstanding Citizenship education, enhancing your school’s overall provision.

Key elements of the programme include:

• Regular termly review meetings with experienced ACT colleagues to support your school in embedding a high standard of Citizenship education.
• Guided feedback and resources tailored to your school’s needs, focusing on how to enhance and implement a quality citizenship curriculum.
• Support with action planning to strengthen your Citizenship provision throughout the year.

By participating, you’ll not only be improving Citizenship education, but also supporting your school’s Spiritual, Moral, Social, and Cultural (SMSC) provision, personal development, and promotion of the DfE British Values—all key areas for Ofsted.

First step? Complete the National Citizenship Education Study teacher survey? Take the survey now and get a tailored report in minutes that will help you improve your Citizenship education delivery.

Price includes School and College Membership

For a fee of £300 for the year, participating schools will also gain a 12-month School and College membership, offering unlimited access to the following:

• ACT’s Model Core Curriculum resources, providing you with structured, ready-to-use materials that align with the Citizenship National Curriculum.
• Access to over 30 hours of online CPD sessions, delivered by subject specialists, ensuring your team remains up-to-date with the latest developments in Citizenship education.
• Priority invitations to ACT events and conferences, allowing you to network and learn from leading experts in the field.

Key Dates for 2024-2025 Cohort

We’ve scheduled three key review sessions throughout the academic year to support you on your journey:

• Monday, 9 December 2024 – Review Session 1
• Monday, 24 March 2025 – Review Session 2
• Monday, 14 July 2025 – Review Session 3

Achieve Recognition for Excellence in Citizenship Education

Upon completing the process, your school will be well-positioned to apply for accreditation as a Citizenship Quality Standard School, showcasing your commitment to delivering quality citizenship education. This will demonstrate your school’s alignment with the National Curriculum, support for British Values, and outstanding delivery of SMSC and personal development. Assessment for accreditation is £175.

Register Now

Join our 2024-25 cohort and take the first step toward transforming your Citizenship provision. Register today, and we’ll handle the onboarding process ahead of the first scheduled session in December.