“The Citizenship curriculum at Hamilton aims to provide compelling learning experiences for all our students. It seeks to actively engage our young people with the political, social and moral issues of the world around them, providing a global dimension within which local issues and experiences can be understood.”
Citizenship is about building student’s sense of agency to influence and impact on the world. It is a statutory subject at Key Stage 3 and 4 and at Hamilton we believe citizenship is:
- A subject in its own right, which requires specialist teachers and its own space in the curriculum;
- A subject with a distinct approach to teaching and learning, which must offer students a voice, access, choice, and the opportunity to take action to affect change;
- A driver of democracy, pervading the school culture and wider community
Citizenship learning, takes place not only within designated timetable space – but through a range of opportunities and activities, on and off the school site, that are valued by students, teachers and the wider community
Curriculum
- Citizenship as a subject is embedded in the curriculum through discreet lessons & time allocation (within PHSE 1 x 60 min per wk each year group for 6 week course.
- Cohesive planned programme ensuring coverage of Citizenship Programme of study
- Identified Cross Curricular Links
- Active Learning alongside knowledge and understanding: Campaigns, debates, school council, clubs
- Library citizenship section
- Topicality: all years study current affairs
- Whole school Policy and Audit
- Range of assessment techniques used to cover knowledge/peer and self assessment
- Full GCSE Citizenship option
Active Citizenship
- Student Council Election Week
- 74 active student representatives
- Charity events: Children’s Home of Hope, Comic Relief
- Multicultural week
- Human Rights Week
- Local democracy week: Takeover Radio Refugee workshop, I’m a councillor
- BBC politics show
- US Embassy trip
- Operation Black Vote Inauguration of President Obama
- (Interview/meeting local politicians inc. David Cameron/Dianne Abbot/Simon Wooley
- DVD of community interviews: MEP, MP Keith Vaz, Lord Mayor, council leaders
- Trip to Parliament London
- Trip to Leicester magistrates court: Mock Trial
- Trip to Brussels: EU parliament trip
- Recycling Fashion Show
- Extended school: Chinese workshop, recycling workshop
- American Pen Pal and President Watch Club
- Mock trials, Leicester Magistrate’s court.
Citizenship Partnerships
- Children’s Home of Hope
- Henderson high School Kentucky
- BBC School News report
- Leicester Magistrates Service
- UK Youth Parliament
- Leicester Museum Services
- Takeover Radio
- University of Leicester
- Leicester City Council
- Environ
- Association of Citizenship Teachers
- Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
- Business Links
Staffing
- Specialist Citizenship teacher and Co-ordinator (Sera Shortland)
- PHSE team with different expertise and experience
- PGCE citizenship trainees ( both phases) bring skills, innovation and enthusiasm
Lesson planning
Student learning within schemes of work allows for progression across each year and incorporates the 8 key concepts highlighted by the global dimension.
- global citizenship
- conflict resolution
- diversity
- human rights
- interdependence
- social justice
- sustainable development
- values and perceptions
Hamilton Community College recognises that citizenship education can inform the whole school ethos, leading to a school which is inclusive, just and democratic and promotes social and environmental responsibility, respect and cooperation.
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
