The Deliberative Classroom: Teaching Deliberation - Guidance for Teachers

The Deliberative Classroom is a curriculum project that began with the support of the Department for Education (DfE) to help teachers to lead knowledge-based discussions and/or debates with students on contemporary and controversial topical issues taught in Citizenship education and other subjects, often relating to fundamental British values, citizenship and equality. Using oracy and discussion-based, deliberation activities supports the development of knowledge, understanding and democratic values. The processes involved can help to build resilience to mis-, dis- and malinformation by supporting informed and critical thinking about the challenges facing the UK as a complex and diverse democracy in a changing and digitised world.

The Deliberative Classroom resources were originally written during a DfE-funded project involving the Association for Citizenship Teaching (ACT), the English Speaking Union (ESU) and Middlesex University. This teacher guidance has been updated and improved with advice from Scott Amott, Lorrellie Canning, Steven Humphrys, Maddie Spink, Hans Svennevig, and James Wright. We are very grateful to all involved.

The original guidance and lessons from 2017 can be accessed here.