Curriculum
Citizenship
The Subject Way
Our subject has a ‘Subject Way’ at the heart of it. Our Subject Way is designed to help students become young subject specialists. The Subject Way has two main purposes:
Firstly, to teach students the vital skills they need to achieve their full potential and gain the very best grades they can. Secondly, to teach students how each subject relates to the wider world, incorporating the life skills they will learn.
It is our belief that knowing how what you learn links to the wider world brings a subject to life and therefore improves overall understanding and engagement.
All students study the National Curriculum for Citizenship. The majority of delivery is in PSHE lessons, please see the PSHE curriculum page for more information.
Y9
In year 9, Citizenship Studies sits in both the Global Citizens and Social Science & Ethics
options suites. Students will begin by studying an introduction to democracy, with a local,
national and international focus. Students will then explore and analyse how society has
changed over the past 50 years, and finally, students then complete an introduction to the
UK criminal justice system.
Y10
Autumn term – Theme A; Living together in the UK
Students will begin the course by studying how communities have developed in the UK.,
both democratically and socially. They will consider different forms of discrimination, the
impact of these, and look at how citizens can act to promote change. Students will consider
the presence of Human Rights within society and evaluate why these are still needed and
debated. Students will complete this unit by looking at the role of local councils and their
impact on a community.
Spring term – Theme B; Democracy at work in the UK
Firstly, students will explore who is involved in running the country, including the key
philosophical differences between the main political parties. They will then learn how
elections are carried out and how the UK government is formed. Using this knowledge,
students explore how the UK parliament functions and consider the arguments for and
against reform. Students will explore how devolution impacts on law-making and identity,
and study government in constituent parts of the UK. Students finish the unit by focusing on
how the government manages public money.
Summer term – Theme C; Law and Justice
Students explore the purpose of law, and how this affects us. Students will study the
principles of UK law and where laws come from. They will learn about the different roles and
organisations within the criminal justice system. Students will also learn about the structure
and purpose of both criminal and civil courts. Students will then consider the arguments
surrounding youth crime and justice. Students complete the unit by exploring crime trends,
and the debates focusing on punishment and crime prevention.
Y11
Autumn term 1 – Theme E; Taking Citizenship Action
To prepare for carrying out their own citizenship action, students undertake their own
research to plan an event or campaign designed to promote change. Students are required
to take action that demonstrates key citizenship attributes. Once students have completed
their action, they then reflect on its impact.
Autumn term 2 and Spring term – Theme D; Power and Influence
Students will explore what power and influence citizens can have. This includes the roles of
groups and organisations in a democratic society. Students will consider the presence of the
media in a democracy and how it can be used to influence public opinion. Students will learn
about the UK’s role in influencing the wider world. They will consider the UK’s role in the UN,
Commonwealth, NATO, WTO, EU and study how the UK responds to challenging global
situations.
Students study the links between the 5 themes, take part in debate week and apply their
skills to practice essays in preparation for their exams.
Long Term Plans
YEAR 9 | |||||
Half Term 1 Introduction to Citizenship: UK
| Half Term 2 Introduction to Citizenship: Wider World | Half Term 3 Theme C – Law and Justice Students will explore legal rights and how UK courts and prisons work. | Half Term 4 Theme C – Law and Justice Students will explore and debate the effectiveness of the UK justice system. | Half Term 5 Theme A How is the UK Changing? How can citizens act to promote change?
| Half Term 6 Theme D Students will explore the role and impact of the mass media. |
YEAR 10 | |||||
Half Term 1 Theme A Living together in the UK Students will begin the course by looking at how communities have developed in the UK. Different forms of discrimination, the impact of this and how can we reduce it. | Half Term 2 Theme A Living together in the UK
How has the Human Rights Act developed and do we still need it? Our rights in society, the work of local councils. | Half Term 3 Theme B
Democracy at work in the UK Students begin by exploring who runs the country, including the key philosophical differences between the main political parties. They will learn how elections run and how the government is formed. This leads to students gaining an understanding of how parliament works. We explore how devolution impacts on law-making and identity. Students also consider the arguments for reforming parliament. | Half Term 4 Theme B Democracy at work in the UK Students will look at Government in constituent parts of the UK. We will then finish off this theme by focusing on how the government manages public money.
| Half Term 5 Theme C Law and Justice Students explore what the law is for and how this affects us. They will also learn about the different roles within the criminal justice system.
| Half Term 6 Theme C Law and Justice Students learn the structure and purpose of criminal and civil courts. Youth Justice and the debates that surround it are investigated. Students learn about crime trends and the different opinions about punishment.
|
YEAR 11 | |||||
Half Term 1 Theme E
Taking Citizenship Action To prepare for carrying out their own action, students undertaking their own research and plan an event or campaign.
| Half Term 2 Theme E
Taking Citizenship Action Students are required to take action to demonstrate key citizenship attributes, they then reflect on the impact of this.
| Half Term 3 Theme D
Power and Influence Students will explore what power and influence citizens can have. This includes the roles of groups and organisations in a democratic society.What role and influence should the media have? Students will investigate the role of media in a democracy and how it can be used to influence public opinion.
| Half Term 4 Theme D
Power and Influence Students learn about the UK’s role in influencing the wider world, the UN, Commonwealth, NATO, WTO, EU and how we respond to challenging global situations.
| Half Term 5 Bringing it all together
Concept mapping Students study the links between the 5 themes, take part in debate week and apply their skills to practice essays in preparation for their exams.
| Half Term 6 Paper 1
Themes A, B and C Paper 2 Themes D and E
|
Find out more
If you would like more information about our curriculum, please contact the school using the details on our contact page.
Our Subjects at KS4
CORE SUBJECTS
EBACC SUBJECTS
OPTION SUBJECTS
