Citizenship Studies
Welcome to the Citizenship Studies homepage. We hope that you are able to access lots of information about the work that we are doing within our department, but please feel free to contact us with any additional questions that you may have.
Within the Citizenship department we aim to empower our students to make their own decisions and to take responsibility for their own lives and communities whilst also allowing our students the opportunity to explore their social and political views. The educational minister says that Citizenship is becoming a cornerstone subject in our education system, allowing our students the opportunity in becoming good global citizens. As a Catholic school we feel that Citizenship is also very beneficial for our students as it helps them to work towards the common good by organising project work on behalf of their chosen charities.
Pupils have the opportunity to study Citizenship Studies as part of their KS4 curriculum pathway choices.
Teaching Staff
Mr Anderson and Mr Lamey.
year 10
Politics and participation
In this theme, students will look at the nature of political power in the UK and the core concepts relating to democracy and government. This includes how government operates at its various levels within the UK, how decisions are made and how the UK parliament works and carries out its functions. It also looks at the role of political parties, the election system, how other countries govern themselves and how the citizen can bring about political change.
Key Questions
- Where does political power reside in the UK and how is it controlled?
- What are the powers of local and devolved government and how can citizens participate?
- Where does political power reside: with the citizen, parliament or government?
- How do others govern themselves?
- How can citizens try to bring about political change?
Rights and Responsibilities
In this theme students will look at the nature of laws and the principles upon which laws are based, how the citizen engages with legal processes, how the justice system operates in the UK, how laws have developed over time and how society deals with criminality. Students will consider also how rights are protected, the nature of universal human rights and how the UK participates in international treaties and agreements. This theme also considers how the citizen can both play a part and bring about change within the legal system.
Key Questions
- What laws does a society require and why?
- What are a citizen's rights and responsibilities within the legal system?
- How has the law developed over time, and how does the law protect the citizen and deal with criminals?
- What are the universal human rights and how do we protect them?
- How do citizens play a part to bring about change in the legal system?
Further information:
https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/citizenship/specifications/AQA-8100-SP-2016.PDF
Useful websites:
http://www.gojimo.com/gcse-citizenship-revision/
https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/citizenship/AQA-8100-SUBJECT-VOCAB.PDF
https://www.hoddereducation.co.uk/citizenship/gcse/aqa
The Investigation: Taking Citizenship Action
Taking citizenship action may be defined as a planned course of informed action to address a citizenship issue or question of concern and aimed at delivering a benefit or change for a particular community or wider society. Taking citizenship action in a real out-of-classroom context allows students to apply citizenship knowledge, understanding and skills, and to gain different citizenship insights and appreciate different perspectives on how we live together and make decisions in society. It requires students to practise a range of citizenship skills including research and enquiry, interpretation of evidence, including primary and secondary sources, planning, collaboration, problem-solving, advocacy, campaigning and evaluation.
year 11
Life in Modern Britain
In this theme, students will look at the make-up, values and dynamics of contemporary UK society. They will consider what it means to be British, how our identities are formed and how we have multiple identities. Students will also look at the role and responsibilities of the traditional media, the impact of new media formats and the UK's role in international issues.
Key Questions
- What are the principles and values that underpin British society?
- What do we mean by identity?
- What is the role of the media and the free press?
- What is the UK's role in key international organisations?
- How can citizens make their voice heard and make a difference in society?
Active Citizenship
This specification is developed around the overarching principle of how citizens can try to make a difference in society. Whilst the three content-based themes enable students to develop their citizenship knowledge base, the last section of each theme enables students to explore through case study approaches and by their own actions how citizens are able to try to make a difference.
The first question posed on the Active citizenship section of Paper 1 relates to understanding citizenship actions and includes a source-based question relating to a citizenship action scenario.
Further information:
https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/citizenship/specifications/AQA-8100-SP-2016.PDF
Useful websites:
http://www.gojimo.com/gcse-citizenship-revision/
https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/citizenship/AQA-8100-SUBJECT-VOCAB.PDF
https://www.hoddereducation.co.uk/citizenship/gcse/aqa