What is Citizenship?

Citizenship equips young people to participate in public life. We hope to make our students responsible citizens who are confident in their ability to make a positive contribution to society.

At Frederick Gough, Citizenship education is present in the whole school curriculum, in taught discrete lessons and in the ethos and culture of the school. Pupils are encouraged to participate fully and become active citizens – via for example the school council where pupils can become involved in the decision-making processes of the school, as a peer mentor and / or via community challenges they may choose within the Optimum Curriculum. Citizenship has close links to the Every Child Matters agenda and to the Duty to Promote Community Cohesion. Citizenship education:

• explores a series of deep and meaningful concepts and processes around justice, democracy, rights and responsibilities
• builds upon young people's knowledge, skills and conviction to have an effective role in public and political life
• helps young people take action to change their communities for the better

Citizenship is delivered by only 2 teachers in the school. Both teachers have the DCSF recognised Citizenship national certification and the head of department is an Advanced skills teacher for North Lincolnshire and helps promote Citizenship and advises other schools within the LA. In KS3 citizenship is taught as a discrete subject, but the curriculum time is shared with PSHE, although students are always made aware of which subject area they are studying. In KS4, RE GCSE delivers much of the national curriculum citizenship requirements, with some elements being taught by the PSHE and Citizenship departments in discrete lesson time.

Key concepts

• Democracy and Justice
• Rights and responsibilities
• Identity and Diversity: Living together in the UK

Key processes (skills)

• Critical thinking and enquiry
• Advocacy (putting forward views in an appropriate way to the correct audience) and representation
• Taking informed and responsible action