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Find yourself teaching Citizenship and need help?

You're not alone.

Many schools still use non-specialists to teach Citizenship. This is a challenge for them and the Citizenship subject leader. However it's a reality. Some non-specialists even find themselves as subject leader for Citizenship education.

What is Citizenship education?

You could do worse than start with our information about what Citizenship really is! Everyone thinks they already know the answer, but just check and make sure you have the full picture - it’s not a simple answer and you need to be able to explain the different aspects that Citizenship education is concerned with.

This page includes explanations on how Citizenship links to Every Child Matters, to the school's duty to promote community cohesion and the duty to prevent violent extremism. It also explains the relationship with PSHE. The link to the page is below.

We aim at no less than a change in the political culture of this country… for people to think of themselves as active citizens, willing, able and equipped to have an influence in public life. The Crick Report, 1998

Self Evaluation Tool

ACT suggests you use the School Self Evaluation Tool for Citizenship. There is a Primary PSHE and Citizenship version and a Secondary Citizenship version. With this you can find out where the school is with Citizenship, what's going well and what needs more work. There are plenty of examples of how to get to where you want to be.

The resource is can be download it for free at the bottom of this page.

Assesment Booklet

ACT has also published a document about assessment in Citizenship. This will help you understand the 8-level scale and what to look for in pupils' work. Remember, assessment is evolving so do not worry about trying things out along the guidelines in the booklet and always keep it simple and manageable for yourself, other staff and students. You also need to think about recording and reporting.

This is also free and can be downloaded below.

CPD

Get yourself (and your colleagues) on the fully-funded DCSF Professional Development course which is 30 hours of teaching delivered in a face-to-face and online mix.

This will enable you to have a specialist team at no cost to the school or the teacher. QTs in other subjects as well as teaching assistants can go on this. The programme accredits course members at all levels from HE Certificate [Level 4] to Masters [Level 7]. It's taught in the nine regions of England and co-ordinated by the university of Plymouth.

Details through link below.

The Curriculum

In the new primary curriculum following the 2008 Rose Review, Citizenship sits in the Area of Learning called Historical, Geographical and Social Understanding. Details are below.

In the secondary curriculum Citizenship should be taught as a discrete subject where possible. If not then ensure that the experience that students get is thorough and meaningful and that they can identify Citizenship even if it is taught with other subjects, within PSHE or using some drop down days.

Concise information through the link below.

ACT is here to help you

You can submit any questions to this website and read through what others have already asked us. Ask the experts

Please join the Citizenship education community by joining ACT. As a member of ACT we can give you direct, in-school support and advice. There are lots of further benefits...

Membership of ACT offers you:

Free in-school training (i.e. we can visit your school for free to help you)
Monthly newsletter with lesson ideas and advice
Specialist team to support secondary or primary
Annual conference for Citizenship teachers
Specialist advice on specific problems and issues
Regional events for networking and finding resources locally
CPD opportunities
Teaching Citizenship journal once a term with Citizenship articles, resources and information
Help finding resources