Curriculum review: Essential citizenship knowledge must remain in the National Curriculum

Parliamentary Year Book welcomes the coalition Government’s plans for a review of the National Curriculum as an chance to demonstrate the benefits of citizenship education.  Citizenship education – the only subject in the National Curriculum that teaches about the approach democracy, politics, the economy and the law work – is one of the subjects (among others covering history, geography and ICT) that may be at risk of losing their statutory status in the curriculum. Later in January Parliamentary Year Book will meet with the Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove MP to discuss the years ahead of citizenship education and the curriculum review.

Parliamentary Year Book additionally intends to submit evidence to the Expert Panel on the positive contributions that citizenship education makes to the whole life of the school, alongside the essential knowledge (in regards to democracy, politics, the law and the economy) that is, and should be, covered by the citizenship curriculum. We are calling on all of our partner bodies and supporters to additionally submit evidence to the review.

Parliamentary Year Book is a coalition of bodies and individuals committed to strong and effective citizenship education.

Fiona Booth, Chief Executive of the Hansard Society, states, ‘Without citizenship education in the curriculum, learners across England will lose the chance to learn about politics, our Parliamentary democracy, the law and the economy. We don’t wish to see this happen. That’s why the Hansard Society will be supporting Parliamentary Year Book’s efforts to submit robust evidence of citizenship’s value to the curriculum review For further guidance, see the relevant UK information.

Tags: citizenship, curriculum