To become a responsible citizen who makes a positive contribution to society is one of the key aims of the national curriculum. Children need to understand their rights and responsibilities and that their actions can sometimes affect others.

Good quality citizenship education should encourage mutual respect and concern for the world we live in and enhance skills of communication and participation in the local and global community.

Developing Citizenship-richness in pupils helps bring about:

• sense of agency
• being better informed, participative and engaged
• politically and emotionally literate
• respectful of human rights of all
• diverse and inclusive
• supportive of creativity and entrepreneurship.

Citizenship is statutory for pupils aged 11 to 16 as part of the National Curriculum and is a Foundation subject in key stages 3 and 4 requiring a an annual report and end of key stage assessment. There is a short course GCSE, full GCSE, AS and A Level.

For further support and information please contact Niall Crawford, Education Adviser.

Schools need to be able to work effectively with pupils. This will help improve the ethos of the school as well as improving both pupil and staff well-being. If schools really ascertain the pupils' voice this will lead to enhanced teaching and learning. One way of hearing the pupil voice is by setting up a school council.

Schools interested in developing ways of working with pupils can

• contact Niall Crawford, EducationAdviser for further information and support
• or attend an accredited course on developing a school council:
• or download the HES leaflet on how to get started withschool councils:  click here to download the leaflet on settting up a school council
• or buy the guidance on school councils or developing the pupil voice by clicking here to go to the publications pages.

The Health Education Service is keen to help schools understand the recent changes and announcements that affect Citizenship Education. 
Click here for summary information will help provide an insight in to what schools should still be providing and also how to make sure Ofsted take note of the contribution Citizenship makes to the education of the pupils.  

We are able to provide a range of services and support that can help prepare you for all upcoming changes or to help embed your practice further for greater impact.  Please contact Niall Crawford on 0121 366 9955 if you need any advice or support.

The census is important to all of us as it provides invaluable information about our local population for service planning, AND determines how much funding local providers will receive for service provision in the future.  For more information about the national census please go to www.census.gov.uk 

The project aims to raise awareness and support for the census through working with identified local secondary schools. 
  
Niall Crawford, Education Adviser has developed support materials on the census; that can be incorporated in both formal and informal learning activities.  To download the lesson plans please click here. These will focus on different aspects of the census so they can be used in different parts of the curriculum from maths to history and citizenship.  

For more information please contact Niall Crawford, Education Adviser.