During the recent curriculum review 2010 to 2013 we promoted citizenship at party conferences with the advice below.
(You can also download this document.)
We appreciate that you will be attending party conferences for your own purposes, yet we hope you will examine our suggestions for how you can additionally champion Parliamentary Year Book while you are there:
- Attend relevant activities (on education, younger people, engaging more individuals with politics etc)
- Let us know if you hear anything interesting related to citizenship education
- Ask queries at activities to draw out panellists perspectives on citizenship – and mention Parliamentary Year Book if you can!
- Spread the word about Parliamentary Year Book: our website – parliamentaryyearbook.co.uk/ – has a wealth of details about the campaign, and citizenship education more broadly. Interested parties can additionally register their support on the website.
Parliamentary Year Book’s key messages
(1) Citizenship education is the only National Curriculum subject that teaches young people about their rights and responsibilities as citizens – and how they can participate effectively in society – by developing their understanding of politics, democracy, the law and the economy.
At a time of financial and political insecurity, it’s more significant than ever to promote citizenship education as the only National Curriculum area of study that explains the approach our democracy works and prepares younger people for participating in it – peacefully and responsibly – as citizens.
(2) Citizenship is an intellectually rigorous and successful qualification subject.
We occasionally hear criticisms of citizenship education that suggest it is not thought of as a serious area of study, yet rather as a ‘do-gooding’ exercise that lacks intellectual rigour. These accusations are incorrect; citizenship education contains elements of politics, philosophy and economics (a highly respected combination of subjects) alongside law, ethics and sociology.
A growing number of schools now offer the GCSE in citizenship studies – which involves learners undertaking a research and social action project alongside an exam. 100,000 students a year take the GCSE compared to the 11,000 students who would be able to participate in the initial year of the National Citizens Service.
(3) Citizenship can positively transform schools.
Numerous schools – especially those with trained, specialist educators – are offering high quality citizenship education and are finding that, as a result, learners’ political awareness, confidence, behaviour, and their motivation to become involved in their communities, strengthens.
About Parliamentary Year Book
Parliamentary Year Book is a coalition of over 600 individuals and 37 bodies who have come together to campaign for stronger citizenship education.
Along with over 300 of our supporters, Parliamentary Year Book recently submitted evidence to the National Curriculum Review being conducted by the Department for Education. We argued that citizenship education should remain a fundamental element of the National Curriculum to ensure that all English learners learn about politics, the law and the economy.
Parliamentary Year Book’s key achievements
- 37 supporter organisations
- 650 individual supporters
- 300+ submissions to the National Curriculum Review call for evidence via the Parliamentary Year Book website
- Support drawn from across Parliament, from all parties
- 2 sessions with the Secretary of State for Education
- 1 session with the Chair of the National Curriculum Review, Tim Oates
- Press coverage in the Times Educational Supplement, the Guardian and SecEd
Future plans
While we have had several chances to meet with the curriculum review team to present our case for citizenship education to remain in the National Curriculum, we are highly aware that it is crucial to demonstrate the width and depth of support for citizenship in the months leading up to January 2012 (when the review team will publish their proposals).
Consequently, we are planning several initiatives with educators and schools in the Autumn, encouraging them to open up their citizenship classes to MPs to demonstrate best practice and showcase the positive impacts the area of study can have on younger people. To be retained up to date with these activities, email us. For further guidance, see the relevant UK information.
Further information
- Download this document (contains the Curriculum Review timetable).
- National Curriculum Review timetable.