Hello, my name is Claire LeDain and I am head of Citizenship at Passmores.

Citizenship is a subject students can choose to take as a GCSE in Year 9 with them being examined in Year 11. It is a subject which is popular here at Passmores with students being keen to learn how the country is run and the impact this has on society. Students have the chance to learn facts but also to investigate peoples’ opinions on a variety of issues, such as the age of criminal responsibility and other laws.

Citizenship is divided into three units of study:

i)             Rights, the law and the legal system

Within this unit students debate why we have laws and the impact; the Human Rights Act and how some countries follow this whilst others do not. They also learn about our justice system and the role of citizens within this.

ii)            Democracy and Government

Included in this unit of study students learn about how Citizens can participate in a democratic country to have their opinion heard and how it works; they compare British democracy with other countries. Students also investigate the role of the media in influencing people and how ethical media companies are in doing so.

iii)          The UK and the Wider World

This unit of study allows students to investigate why people have migrated to the UK since WWII. Students will find out the benefits of immigration as well as the challenges. Students will understand why respect of others is vital in creating community cohesion.

Citizenship in Action Campaign

Students also take part in a practical Citizenship in Action Campaign. For this part of their learning students identify an issue within our local community. To help them identify a relevant issue students first complete their initial research. They then plan what they will do to resolve this issue before carrying out their action. At the end of this campaign students will evaluate how well they worked based on skills such as organisation, communication, group work and time management.

The aims of the program of study are to encourage students to:

·         Engage with topical citizenship issues and contribute to debates on challenges facing society, involving a wide range of political, social and ethical ideas, issues and problems in different contexts (local to global)

·         Develop and apply understanding of key citizenship concepts (justice, democracy, rights and responsibilities, identities and diversity) to deepen their understanding of society and how communities change over time

·         Use an enquiring, critical approach to distinguish facts, opinions and bias, build arguments and make informed judgements

·         Develop the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding to take action with others to address citizenship issues in their communities.


If you would like any further information please email me: