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Why citizenship educationin secondary schools?
Key arguments and actionsfor senior managers
Citizenship Foundation, June 2013
Aims of these slides
1. Set out the key reasons for effective development of citizenship education policy and practice
2. Detail actions you need to take now for citizenship education in your school
3. Explain where and how citizenship education should be developed in schools
4. Highlight the benefits and impacts of effective citizenship education in schools.
Citizenship education can…
• Raise school standards and student achievement• Improve behaviour and reduce exclusions• Empower students through real decision-making
and consultation in and beyond school• Fulfil statutory obligations for the National
Curriculum, SMSC and Ofsted • Strengthen the school as a living community by
improving student relations• Enable students to understand and engage with
big, controversial issues
• Strengthen transition from KS2 to KS3• Deliver distinctive, core curriculum knowledge
about politics, law, economy and active citizenship
• Develop key skills that employers want (such as leadership and teamwork)
• Improve links to other initiatives (International School Awards, Rights Schools etc)
• Strengthen links between curriculum and school culture
• Strengthen partnerships with wider communities• Better prepare students for adult life beyond
school.
Citizenship education can…
Why citizenship education?
Key facts
• Citizenship is the only subject in the National Curriculum that explicitly teaches democracy, politics, the law, the economy and social action.
• Half a million young people have achieved a GCSE or A level in citizenship since 2002.
• Young people have initiated over 100,000 active citizenship projects in their communities since the GCSE was introduced.
• Citizenship guards against indoctrination. Teachers and local authorities are required by the Education Act 1996 to ensure students are presented with different points of view so that they can make up their own minds.
Citizenship education meets government policy
• Citizenship remains a National Curriculum subject at key stages 3 and 4
• All young people have an entitlement to citizenship education
• Ofsted continues to inspect citizenship in the curriculum, and in the wider school through SMSC
• GCSE Citizenship Studies is still available• A and AS level citizenship courses are available• New teachers are being trained for citizenship,
through university and school-based routes.
‘Citizenship will remain a programme of study at key stages 3 and 4 and I look forward to… ensure that this valuable subject is even better taught in more of our schools.‘
Michael Gove, Secretary of State for EducationHouse of Commons, February 2013
Image: Department for Education
Citizenship remains in the National Curriculum
‘I can reassure you about Ofqual’s position on citizenship qualifications. Ministers have decided that Citizenship should stay as a foundation subject at Key Stages 3 and 4. There will therefore continue to be a GCSE in Citizenship Studies.‘
Glenys Stacey, Chief Regulator, Ofqual
GCSE Citizenship Studies to be retained
Who benefits?
Citizenship education
Whole school
Curriculum
Students
Wider communities
Benefits: The whole school
• Addresses SMSC strand of Ofsted’s inspection framework
• Strengthens student voice and participation• Impacts on student leadership• Strengthens the school as a community• Improves behaviour and attitudes• Raises achievement and motivation
• GCSE, A and AS Citizenship Studies pass rates• Student happiness about school• Student motivation in school.
Benefits: Students
• Develops key skills of student voice, leadership and teamwork
• Gives them opportunities to take part in decision-making with responsibilities
• Helps them to express views and opinions• Improves self-confidence and self-esteem• Enables them to make a positive contribution in
and beyond the school• Enhances student achievement• Better prepares them for life as adults.
• ‘Citizenship teaching has made me realise that my opinion matters and my action is needed.’ Student, year 13
• ‘Citizenship has built my self-confidence and helped me understand how the world works.’ Student, year 11
• ‘Citizenship has given me belief that you can make a positive difference whatever your age.’ Student, year 9
Benefits: Students
Benefits: Wider communities
• Brings civil society into the school• Aids transition between primary and secondary
(KS2 -3)• Takes the school out into the local community • Connects with wider communities and civil
society beyond the school• Develops young people informed about and
willing to participate in community life• Develops young people with an interest in and
opinions about ‘big, controversial issues’ in society.
Schools think citizenship is important
• School leaders and teachers increasingly recognise the benefits of effective citizenship education• at school level • at student level • at community level
• They are also aware of the impact of citizenship education in and beyond schools, now and in the future.Citizenship Education Longitudinal Study, [2002 - 2010],
National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER)
Wider benefits for school managers
Citizenship Education Longitudinal Study
Consulting with students
Students' future participation in community
Students' future voting behaviour
Students' engagement with local issues
Students' confidence
School's relationship with community
Students' participation in school
Behaviour of students in school
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
% respondents
Citizenship impacts on school areas
Citizenship Education Longitudinal Study
Students' increasing awareness of current affairs
Improving tolerance and respect
Students able to make informed decisions
Students becoming well-rounded citizens
Increasing students' participation
Developing school as a community
Improving behaviour and attitudes
Improving school links with community
Cross-curricular links
Other
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
School teachersSchool leaders
% respondents
Where should citizenship education be developed?
Three contexts for developing citizenship
Curriculum (classroom)
Wider communities(community)
School community(culture)
What to address in the three contexts
CurriculumCore knowledge
Key skillsControversial issues
School communityParticipation
Decision-makingVoice and leadership
Teamwork
Wider communities
ParticipationDecision-making
Big issuesEngagement with
adults
Take immediate action
You need to…
1. Re-engage with citizenship in your school2. Know where to get appropriate training and
support3. Provide strong, visible SLT support 4. Review the school’s vision, ethos and
development plan in line with the new National Curriculum aims and citizenship Programmes of Study (including new statutory financial education)
5. Amend policy and approaches to fit National Curriculum requirements and meet Ofsted expectations
6. Review how it is approached and interconnected in the three contexts:• Curriculum: discrete, ex-curricular, dropdown, etc• School community: participation, voice and leadership• Wider community: links, projects and exchanges
7. Ensure senior leadership and governor support 8. Make sure you have a strong, qualified
citizenship co-ordinator who is well respected9. Check staff are adequately trained and resourced
to deliver effective practice in school (both in curriculum subjects and school life)
You need to…
10.Make certain there are rigorous assessment approaches (formative and summative)
11.Check that appropriate monitoring and evaluation is in place for each of the ‘three contexts’
12.Ensure students are well informed about approaches in the school and are actively involved
13.Ensure parents and community representatives are informed about approaches in and beyond the school.
You need to…
BEFORE ASKING
what kind ofeducation system
do we need,we need to ask
what kind of societydo we want?
Chilean writer
David Kerr
These slides are written by David Kerr. David has a strong track record in citizenship education in the UK, in Europe, and internationally.
David Kerr was Professional Officer to the Citizenship Advisory Group (known as the 'Crick Group‘) before becoming citizenship consultant to the DfES (now the Department for Education). Later, David was Research Director for NFER's Citizenship Education Longitudinal Study (CELS). He is now Consultant Director of Education at the Citizenship Foundation and Co-Director of the International Education Association's International Civic and Citizenship Education Study, which involves 38 countries worldwide.
Citizenship FoundationThe Citizenship Foundation is a charity, established in 1989. We inspire people to take part in society as equal members of it. We help them to understand the law, politics and public life.
citizenshipfoundation.org.uk/school-support
• We promote civic participation;• We help schools and colleges with citizenship
education;• We work with young people on issues that
concern them.
June 2013. © Citizenship Foundation