Key Stage 4:  GCSE Citizenship

Curriculum Intent

A high-quality citizenship education helps to provide students with the knowledge, skills and understanding to prepare them to play a full and active part in society.

Citizenship Studies is about how people take an active part in democratic politics and work
together for a better society, locally, nationally and globally. Students will learn about power, democracy, the operation of government and the legal system, and the role of the UK in the wider world. They will explore and learn about different controversial and topical issues with political, social, ethical, economic and environmental dimensions in local to global contexts. They will experience taking citizenship action and learn from trying to make a difference themselves.

Curriculum Overview

Course outline and structure – GCSE Citizenship

Exam Board: Edexcel

The course content is divided into five themes:
● A: Living together in the UK
● B: Democracy at work in the UK
● C: Law and justice
● D: Power and influence
● E: Taking citizenship action

Qualification aims and objectives

The aims and objectives of this qualification are to enable students to:
● know and understand what democracy is, how parliamentary democracy operates within
the constituent parts of the UK, how government works and how democratic and nondemocratic systems of government are different beyond the UK
● know and understand the relationship between the state and citizens, the rights,
responsibilities and duties of citizens living and working in the UK and how people
participate in democracy
● know and understand the role of the law in society, how laws are shaped and enforced
and how the justice system works in England and Wales
● know and understand how taxes are raised and spent by governments, and how national
economic and financial policies and decisions relate to individuals
● use and apply knowledge and understanding of key citizenship ideas and concepts,
including democracy, government, justice, equality, rights, responsibilities, participation,
community, identity and diversity, to think deeply and critically about a wide range of
political, social, economic and ethical issues and questions facing society in local to global
contexts
● use and apply knowledge and understanding as they formulate citizenship enquiries,
explore and research citizenship issues and actions, analyse and evaluate information and
interpret sources of evidence
● use and apply citizenship knowledge and understanding to contribute to debates, show
understanding of different viewpoints, make persuasive and reasoned arguments, and
justify and substantiate their conclusions
● use and apply citizenship knowledge, understanding and skills in order to participate in
responsible actions to address citizenship issues aimed at improving society and positively
contributing to democracy and public life, as individuals and in collaboration with others.

Extra-curricular activities

The department plans to offer a number of curriculum-related trips. We organise opportunities for students to interview MPs and local politicians and organise a visit to Westminster.