The Context in which the Citizenship Strategy is setThe Birmingham Citizenship Education Strategy is set within the context of the development of Brighter Futures and the Children, Young People and Families Plan, and the requirement (under the
Children Act 2004) for the focus of all children’s services to be integral to the five outcomes of Every Child Matters:
be healthy; stay safe; enjoy and achieve; make a positive contribution; achieve economic well-being.The Strategy also makes a significant contribution to promoting community cohesion through:
• Supporting schools to engage more fully with their local neighbourhoods
• Develop shared values and aspirations amongst children, young people and their families from all backgrounds
• Providing opportunity for the voices of children and young people to be heard (
Hear by Right - http://hbr.nya.org.uk/) and inform local policy and decision-making.
It is also set in the context of the
New Relationship with Schools in which partnership, collaboration and inter-agency co-operation in meeting the needs of all children, and particularly the most vulnerable, are hallmarks of how schools and the Local Authority work as one to raise standards and improve life chances for all children, young people and families.
The outcomes identified through Brighter Futures highlight the significant role that schools can play in helping to develop the collective vision for the city and its inhabitants.
The Education and Inspections Act 2006 places a
duty on governing bodies to promote well-being and community cohesion, and to take the Children and Young People’s Plan into consideration. The development and implementation of a coherent city wide strategy to promote citizenship in schools, services for youth and other provision for children and young people is a key part of the process in which schools and other service providers in the Local Authority work together to achieve their outcomes.
