Citizenship is the newest and most relevant subject to come into schools. It is a vibrant, active and engaging subject that allows you to understand, participate in and change the world around you. G8, Make Poverty History, the War in Iraq and many other areas of global interest are covered in this subject, but, we don’t just tell you about these things, you get to actively participate and have a say on these crucial issues.

Content:

The course is split into 3 major areas:

• Rights & Responsibilities: As members of society we have rights. We need to understand what these rights are and how they are upheld in Britain and why they are denied in other countries. Most importantly we learn what we can do to make a difference. We learn about responsibilities, the law and courts. You will have opportunities to actively participate in these elements of society and gain a much better understanding of important things such as the police and anti-terror measures.
• Global Village: Climate change, Aids, Poverty, War and many more. How do these issues affect people around the world? Who is doing anything to remedy these global concerns? What can we do in Britain to help those people whom are less fortunate? In this element we learn the reasons behind these global concerns and the lengths the global community is or isn’t going to, to help.
• Politics and the Media: What really goes on in Parliament? Can we trust our politicians? Can we trust the media such as TV, newspapers and the Internet? This element is crucial to an understanding of what makes Britain tick. The importance of democracy and what that means is key. We learn about the systems and people that control us in our day to day lives. Moreover, we learn what we can do to be more active and have a greater say in the world of politics and over what we watch and read.

The coursework:

 This is your opportunity to make a difference. You pick a crucial global, national or local concern and you raise awareness about that issue. Previous pupils have made websites against discrimination, organised assemblies, had guest speakers, sales, debates…the list goes on.

Assessment:

40% of the course is assessed in an examination lasting 1 hour.

60% of the course is assessed through coursework that shows your planning and participation in a school or community-based activity.