Citizenship

CITIZENSHIP AT GREAT MARLOW SCHOOL

CITICitizenship education is about empowering students to be confident. It helps students develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to keep themselves healthy and safe, and to prepare them for life and work in modern Britain. The course requires them to take responsibility for their own lives and the community in which they live.

Citizenship education has three core themes: Democracy & Government, Rights & Equalities and Fairness & Justice. It challenges students to develop:

• knowledge and understanding of the following topics: the law and the rules governing it; the democratic process; the media; human rights; diversity; money and the economy; sustainable development; and the world as a global community
• knowledge and understanding of the concepts: democracy, justice, equality, freedom, authority and the rule of law

Citizenship education develops three key skills: Research & Interrogating Evidence, Debating & Evaluating Viewpoints and Taking Informed Action. It challenges students to develop:

• skill and aptitude in critical thinking including being able to: analyse information; express opinions; take part in discussions and debates; negotiate; engage with conflict resolution; and participate in community action;
• values and dispositions including ‘British Values’: respect for justice; democracy and the rule of law; mutual respect, openness, tolerance and courage to defend a point of view; and a willingness to listen to, work with, and stand up for others.

There are dedicated classrooms, equipped with a PC, digital projector and DVD facilities. In addition, there is a wide selection of textbook resources. Qualified and experienced staff deliver the curriculum, with enthusiasm, to engage and motivate students.

Our Learning Journey shows what subjects or topics will be studied from Year 7 to Year 11 or Year 13.   Each PDF is hyperlinked, so when you click on any year roundel, you will be taken to an In-Depth Learning Journey for that particular school year. You can scroll up or down to see other years or click on another year roundel.

CITIZENSHIP KS3 & KS4

KEY STAGE 3 CITIZENSHIP 

At Key Stage 3 we focus on three Citizenship core themes:

• Democracy & Government
• Rights & Equalities
• Fairness & Justice

Students develop key skills in knowledge, understanding and analysis. They develop skills and aptitude in critical thinking including being able to analyse information; express opinions; take part in discussions and debates; negotiate; engage with conflict resolution; and participate in community action.

Each half term the students in Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 follow a Citizenship curriculum, which aims to

• develop student knowledge and understanding to help them become informed citizens
• develop skills of enquiry and communication
• develop skills of participation and responsible action

Year 7 What is Citizenship? 

Topic 1 – How to Build Your Own Country 

• Introduction to citizenship
• How to start a country
• Running a country
• Identity
• Serving your citizens
• Making laws
• Getting recognised 

Topic 2 – Communities and Identities 

• Living together
• Community services
• Good and active citizens

Topic 3 – Refugees

• Identity rights
• Migration
• Arrival Responses

Year 8  Concepts of Citizenship.

Topic 1 – British Democracy 

•  Parliament
• General elections
• MPs
• Forms of government

Topic 2 – Human Rights 

• What are human rights
• Rights and responsibilities
• Protecting human rights

Topic 3 – Identity and Diversity

• Race
• Gender
• Disability
• Sexuality
• Britishness
• Identity
• Immigration
• Equality

Year 9 The Influence of Government in the UK and the Wider World.

Topic 1 – Power and Influence 

• How do corporations affect us
• Corporate innovation
• Are big corporations good or bad?

Topic 2 – Government and Parliament

• House of Commons
• House of Lords
• Select committees
• Bill to Act
• Petitions

Topic 3 – Model United Nations

• Issues
• Resolutions
• Speech and debate
• Conference day

KS4 CITIZENSHIP  GCSE Edexcel 1CS0

Students can choose to study a GCSE in this subject.

The course content is divided into five themes:

YEAR 10

A: Living together in the UK

This theme explores the idea that the UK is a diverse society of many different communities and groups that live together. Students will study the impact of migration and the nature of identity. They will also consider the different rights and freedoms we have in the UK, such as freedom of speech, tolerance and respect, plus, the checks and balances needed in relation to these, including debates about freedom of speech and the threat from terrorism.

B: Democracy at work in the UK

This theme investigates the idea of parliamentary democracy in the UK including voting and elections, the role of MPs, making and shaping law, also, how government is organised and kept in check.

C: Law and justice

Students explore why we need laws and how law affects us in our everyday lives. They consider how the justice system works in everyday life, including the roles and power of the police and the courts.

YEAR 11

D: Power and influence

In this theme we question how people exercise power, either as ordinary citizens, the government or the media. We contrast representative democracy in the UK with other less democratic countries. We also explore the UK’s role in the world, addressing topics such as the United Nations, the European Union and our role in solving global issues such as war, human rights abuse and poverty.

E: Taking citizenship action

Students choose an issue that they find particularly interesting, form a team, investigate it, plan and carry out their own action to address it. At the end they evaluate what they learned from their action.

Assessment

There are two written papers (each worth 50%). Each examination paper contains a mix of shorter questions based on sources and extended-response questions based on citizenship issues. The second paper also contains a short section about the student’s citizenship action.

Recommendations

Citizenship Studies requires students to engage with current affairs and research political issues. It is highly recommended that students subscribe to a news ‘app’ on their smartphone and/or regularly read a news website or newspaper.

The following websites will be particularly useful:

• www.parliament.uk
• www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics
• http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/citizenship-studies-2016.html