The Citizenship co-ordinator is Sera Shortland. Citizenship at KS3 is taught within the PHSE Faculty. The Citizenship and Law GCSE forms part of the Humanities Faculty.Citizenship at Hamilton Community College “We aim for no less than a change in the political culture of our country, for people to think of themselves as citizens, willing and able to have an influence in public life.” Citizenship at Hamilton aims to enable students to make their own decisions and to take responsibility for their own lives and their communities. At the heart of citizenship education is student voice and empowerment. We aim to build their sense of agency to influence and impact on the world around them. Citizenship is: • A new subject; a subject in its on right. Citizenship Curriculum: What happens in Citizenship in Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9? Students have a 1 hour period over 6 weeks of citizenship in Year 7, 8 and 9. The lessons are taught through different topics in each year, each year group is also encouraged to take part in an active campaign linked to their study area. o Year 7 – Human Rights: e.g. Campaigning for children’s rights project What happens in Citizenship in Year 10 and Year 11? All students are provided with 1 hour of citizenship education over 6 weeks. Some students opt to take a GCSE in Law and Citizenship o Year 10 – The media: e.g. BBC school News report project GCSE Law and Citizenship (OCR Exam Board) Students can opt to take this course in year 10. It is taught over 5 lessons a week for 2 years. It results in successful students obtaining 2 GCSEs, 1 GCSE in Citizenship and 1 GCSE in Law. The citizenship units that are taken are: Rights and Responsibilities – Getting Started as an Active Citizen Controlled Assessment • Our rights and responsibilities to each other, within families and within the wider community • Our rights and responsibilities as citizens within the economy and welfare systems • Our rights and responsibilities as global citizens • Campaigning to raise awareness and advocate action within the community. Identity, Democracy and Justice – Understanding our Role as Citizens: Module Exam • Citizenship, identity and community in the United Kingdom • Fairness and justice in decision making and the law • Democracy and voting • The United Kingdom’s relationships in Europe, including the European Union (EU), and relationships with the Commonwealth and United Nations (UN). Rights and Responsibilities – Extending our Knowledge and Understanding: Module Exam • Our rights and responsibilities at school/college and within the wider community • Our rights and responsibilities as citizens within the economy and welfare systems • Extending understanding of a global citizen’s rights and responsibilities Identity, Democracy and Justice – Leading the Way as an Active Citizen: Controlled Assessment • Citizenship, identity and community cohesion in the United Kingdom • Extending understanding of the legal and justice system • Democracy and voting Citizenship Community Building a Citizenship Culture - Student Voice • School Council: the foundation of student voice. Over the past 5 years it has made a significant impact on our school culture, and is a means for every student to communicate their views of change to the school’s SLT. •There are several arms to the student council some are responsible for building a programme of observations to aid professional development of staff, some are subject representatives: Elected students represent their class’ views on how lessons can be improved, including taking part in department meetings every term. New teachers at the school are interviewed by panels of school council reps. • Student News: a new team of students is responsible for communicating citizenship news into the school, within the school and back into the community. • Student Experts: students are regularly involved in consultation projects to improve the school – for example on our school grounds project • Student Evaluators: At the end of every year, sessions dedicated to evaluation enable every student in the school to feedback what is successful about Citizenship and what could still be improved – and their proposals acted upon for the new school year. Citizenship Culture From the start of our Citizenship Programme, we have always worked on projects that benefit local and global communities and try to bring change. • Taking part in Leicester Business and Enterprise Initiative, students have developed projects on fair trade and healthy eating with local primary feeder school • Supporting an Orphanage in Ghana for children who have lost parents through HIV • Visiting and lobbying MEPs during annual visits to the European Parliament in Brussels. • Working with QCA to produce a film about citizenship assessment • Working with various organiastions to produce guidance on cyberbullying and sustainable development • Establishing an online community forum with an American School to learn about diverse communities Where can I find out more about citizenship education? Visit the New National curriculum website: http://curriculum.qcda.gov.uk/key-stages-3-and-4/ index.aspx Law GCSEThis course is taught alongside GCSE citizenship. It focuses on the development of skills which are useful for further study and for the workplace. It encourages students to develop the skills of problem solving, interpreting source material, data response, analysis, evaluation and extended writing. There is a very small degree of overlap between the content of this course and that of GCSE Citizenship, and therefore compliments citizenship in a number of ways. The aims of Law GCSE are to enable students to: • actively engage in the study of law to develop as effective and independent learners and as critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring minds; • develop an understanding of the role of law in underpinning relationships amongstindividuals, groups and institutions within society; • develop enquiry, critical thinking and decision-making skills through investigation of legal issues which are important, real and relevant to the world in which they live, and base reasoned judgements and arguments on evidence; • know the rights and responsibilities they have as individuals, appreciate their own contribution to society and develop skills which enhance their ability to act in informed roles within different contexts. Learning Modules The course is made up of four mandatory units. These units are externally assessed. The four units are: The nature of law. Criminal courts and criminal processes Civil courts and civil processes. Civil liberties and human rights Employment rights and responsibilities Consumer rights and responsibilities |
