Curriculum context

In many schools Citizenship is taught through core curriculum subjects such as Maths and English. These activities can be used by the English teacher who wishes to take a citizenship approach to the study of The Crucible or can be used in discreet Citizenship or PSHE lessons. Whilst it is envisaged that each of the four activities are used sequentially, they can, where necessary, be used as standalone activities. For example, Activity 1 could be introduced into a PSHE scheme of work on bullying and Activity 2 could be used in a Citizenship lesson on the British criminal justice system.

The Programme of study for Citizenship at Key Stage 4 has three components:

1) Knowledge and understanding about becoming informed citizens

2) Developing skills of enquiry and communication

3) Developing skills of participation and responsible action

The main aspects of the programme of Study addressed in these materials are as follows:

Pupils should be taught about:

1a) the legal and human rights and responsibilities underpinning society and how they relate to citizens, including the role and operation of the criminal and civil justice systems

Pupils should be taught to:

2a) research a topical political, spiritual, moral, social or cultural issue, problem or event by analysing information from different sources, including ICT-based sources

2b) express, justify and defend orally and in writing a personal opinion about such issues, problems or events

2c) contribute to group and exploratory class discussion, and take part in formal debates

3a) use their imagination to consider other people’s experiences and be able to think about, express, explain and critically evaluate views that are not their own.

The activities also address the following elements of the PSHE National Framework:

Pupils should be taught to:

1d) recognise influences, pressures and sources of help and respond to them appropriately

3b) be aware of exploitation in relationships