ACT : Association for Citizenship Teaching

Can your class explain the difference between a district and town council? Do they know the Alternative Vote from STV? Or why the Berlin Wall fell and the Bosnian War began?

Democracy in Action is a series of programmes which aim to bring politics to life for younger audiences and explain complex issues in an engaging way using teenagers' contributions. Even electoral systems are explained in a fun way!

In a second programme, Democracy in Action explores modern European history, including the impact of the Berlin Wall and life under Communism, EU migration, and immigration to the UK: Through a young woman's disturbing family story during the Bosnian war, we learn about why people arrive as refugees.

Democracy in Action is designed to support the teaching of subjects which teachers find difficult and which students feel have the least relevance to their lives and interests. The target audience is Key Stage 4 students. Both programmes, which are one hour long, are available on i-player. They will soon be made available as small clips for teachers to use in classrooms to introduce topics.

An earlier programme was first broadcast last year and covered 4 themes: UK Politics, the Media and Politics, the European Union and World Political Systems. The programme has since been made available in clip form through BBC Learning, and in longer form via BBC Democracy Live.

The final Big Saturday for the Midlands hub this term will be Saturday July 3rd. The Midlands hub venue is Jurys Inn, Broad street, Birmingham. You can find the venue at Jurys Inn . The focus of the July meeting will be whole school issues and Citizenship education and be led by Billie Crombie. For full details see http://www.teachingcitizenship.org.uk/region?p=44

An inspirational afternoon of free CPD for London teachers run by Amnesty International and The London Citizenship Network. Learn how human rights can be approached across a whole school, in the classroom and as extra-curricular enrichment for students.

To book a place email citizenship@amnesty.org.uk with your name, school, subject and phone number.

A major international conference to be held in central London and convened jointly by the Institute of Education and Beijing Normal University

This two-day conference is for academics, teachers and other professionals in the fields of Citizenship and education, providing an opportunity to:

• learn more about the latest research and practice

• develop professionally

• discover new perspectives

• engage with other participants

• build international networks

Alongside presentations by practitioners and academics from around the world, a series of renowned speakers will deliver keynote lectures during the conference:

• Prof. Krishna Kumar – developments in citizenship education in India

• Prof. Ping Li – moral education

• Prof. Audrey Osler – human rights education

• Lord Bhikhu Parekh – multiculturalism and its impact on citizenship

• Prof. Ann Phoenix – the social identities of young people

• Dr Hugh Starkey – citizenship education in the UK

• Prof. Chuanbao Tan – citizenship education in China

Discount registration available until 31 July 2010.