ACT : Association for Citizenship Teaching

Is Citizenship secure in schools? With government plans for a 'slimmed down' curriculum, will this subject be safe or will it be dropped from it's current status in the National Curriculum bearing in mind it is a relatively new subject in its current state? I teach Citizenship and PSHE Education and I am in the fortunate position that my department has 1 hour a week for students to be taught in these areas by specialists or at least dedicated teachers rather than the common model of random non-specialists. I have a slight fear for my job!

This is a very good question at the moment.

The model that your school has adopted is a strong one and it suggests that your school leadership values the contribution that Citizenship education-and PSHEe- make to young people's education. As such, why would the SMT want to abandon a valuable aspect of teaching and learning? If school leaders are to be given more authority over the school curiculum, then the schools where Citizenship education is strong will value it and want to ensure it continues to be successful.

In general, I think that this is the main resaon that most schools would not abandon Citizenship education. The value of the subject is seen by heads and governors-it links stongly to the ethos that many schools and communities espouse. It provides the only space for young people to explore aspects of justice and rights, controversial issues and global learning. It links to student voice and supoprts many of the legal obligations of school-like the participation aspect of Every Child matters. It also chimes clearly with aspects of the new government Big Society and its aspirations for active and politically literate young people.

However, it is likely that any change in the curriculum will impact on Citizenship education and other subjects. Teachers like yourself will have to be prepared to argue the case and provide good quality evidence of the impact and success of the subject. Having a strong representation at GCSE level may be useful-short course or full course. Having strong compelling learning experiences, good assessment and reporting and good referencing from Ofsted will help.

ACT feels that Citizenship education is well established now with its strong curriculum, good resources and full set of examinations; that it can support many of the aspirations of the Coalition government. Do go and talk to your head about these matters though and if you need more support then do ask ACT.

Chris Waller, Professional Officer

Can schools gain Citizenship specialism status? If so, what is involved and required to ascertain it?

Stuart George

A very interesting question. There are two such specialist Citizenship academies/colleges in the country. You might try contacting Bradford Academy at www.bradfordacademy.co.uk and asking them about their experience.

Many schools go for Humanities status with Citizenship forming part of the mix. You are best off consulting with Specialist Schools and Academies Trust at www.ssatust.org.uk

Chris Waller, ACT

While levels are required for end of KS3 by Sept 2011, what replaces the end of KS4 descriptor? do we have to use levels(assuming we do not offer a GCSE in the subject)?

Yes, schools should use the levels to describe progress. These replace the end of key stage description for both key stage 3 and key stage 4.

Liz Craft, QCDA

Is summative assessment the most effective method of assessing citizenship within school at KS4 or formative assessment?

This is a good question. QCDA, who advise on assessment matters, tend to talk about assessment in terms of day to day and periodic assessment. You can see more about this in the web pages about the secondary curriculum on the ACT website.

If by summative you mean external assessment such as GCSE then the new courses have a 60 per cent weighting of controlled teacher assessment for the active citizenship project and 40 per cent by exam.

If you mean should you'test' or make use of a powerful assessment task(s) built into a piece of work the students are undertaking, then both ACT and QCDA we would suggest its better to look for a range of evidence of learning, from a range of types of citizenship learning activities. This is more robust than relying on a single often limited test or task at the end of the piece of work, term or year. It is always better to consider activities that involve more than writing about what students know or can do. Of course written tests can be an appropriate means to check whether students have understood or acquired a paticular concept or idea, but they are not the most appropriate way of checking whether learners have acquired and can use and apply citizenship knowledge, skills and processes.

The 8 Level Scale for Citizenship is your best guide. Look at that and use it as a guide for planning your work, assessment activities and progression. Use it as a framework-not a ladder though. It is not appropriate simply to see the 8 Level Scale as a ladder for students to move up. Always consider what Conecpts and/or Processes you are planning to investigate in the work students are undertaking. Finally, always think about trying to assess that which is more difficult to assess-not just the easy bits. That way both you and your students will have a clearer picture of their progress.

Chris Waller, ACT and Liz Craft QCDA

Hello, I'm studying for DTLLS at the moment, I'm interested in teaching citizenship in adult/further education. Could you tell me what qualification I need and where I'd go for it? Many thanks

There is lots of information on the ACT website about starting out as a Citizenship education teacher in the section ' How do I become a Citizenship education teacher' You should also look at the TDA web pages-links form our site on the pages mentioned. The TDA is always worth contacting for the varied routes into teacher overall.

Millicent Scott

HI, I RECEIVED A 48.5% MARK (THRID) IN SOCIALOGY . I AM AND INTERESTED AND CONSIDERING a PCGE IN CITIZENSHIP. MOST UNIVERSITY ARE ASKING FOR A 2.2. IS THERE ANOTHER PATHWAY TO GAINING ANOTHER QUALIFICATION TOWARDS REACHING MY GOAL AS A CITIZENSHIP TEACHER? ANGIE

I think that your best route is asking at indivdual HEIs where Citizenship education is a PGCE. They will be able to help you more specifically. The list of such HEIs is on our website in the section 'How do I become a Citizenship education teacher'

Millicent Scott

For someone looking to start an undergraduate degree and wanting to teach at secondary level, what is the best route to teaching Citizenship?

I think that you need to consider teaching as a career per se. We suggest that you always start with the TDA. Go to the 'How do I become a Citizenship education teacher' on our web site for links.

Millicent Scott

I an ex -teacher of Sld & mld in higher Education. I have a certificate in education.

I am now interested in finding out about training for teaching citizenship.

Could anybody tell me the best/ or indeed if there is a route into this.

Hi Patricia. There is lots of advice on our website at www.teachingcitizenship.org.uk/page?p=20

Chris Waller

Do you have any suggestions for assessing KS4 Citizenship without using the Short Course GCSE? We have, for various reasons, just dropped the Short Course GCSE but are now stuck for a way to assess KS4 Citizenship. We are introducing the Full Course as an option but still have a group of KS4 who will not have a clear method of assessment. My school feels very strongly that they need to show OfSTED that Citizenship is assessing its pupils and tracking progress - which we do in an informal manner. Any suggestions on an approach to assessment would be wonderful. Thank you.

Thank you for your email. Your school is right that students must be assessed at KS4 in Citizenship, although its more important to do it to help their learning, than to impress Ofsted! I suggest you assess in KS4 in the same way that you do it in KS3. By selecting a range of methods, to collect a range of evidence that can exemplify a range of knowledge and skills. at ACT We have done some work on this for KS3. You can see this on the ACT wesite in the new secondary curriculum section. The same principles apply for KS4.

Pete Pattisson, national Subject Lead for the introduction of the revised Secondary Citizenship Curriculum

Hi

I really want to do a pgce in citizenship but would like to do it through distance learning and part time. I have found Sheffield Hallam offer this course, but as I live in Cornwall it is too far away as I would have to attend 15 days at the University. Does anyone else no of similar courses offered closer to the South West? I have been looking but struggling to find any information

Thanks

Alison

I strongly suggest that you contact Plymouth University about this. Try asking Mike Mitchell. You can reach him at mike.mitchell@plymouth.ac.uk

Chris Waller