Citizenship

Citizenship

Citizenship Studies is concerned with the kind of society we live in and want to influence and develop. It covers, too, the role of the public and private organisations in the process. School courses help prepare students to become active citizens. The best of them promote students’ personal and social development, and make them more self-confident and responsible, in the classroom and beyond.

All external examination courses emphasise developing awareness of the role of citizens in a variety of contexts.

Just about any educational visit will contribute to the students’ exploration of new experiences and new ideas about being a ‘citizen’, but venues and activities that bring students into contact with other communities, other social contexts and other attitudes will be particularly exciting. Many museums and venues specialise in giving hands-on experiences of what some aspects of life in earlier centuries was actually like. These tend to be attractive to primary school groups.

Secondary groups often visit civic centres and attend local council meetings. Both primary and secondary groups will be welcome at churches, chapels, synagogues, mosques and temple, some of which offer programmes of talks and exhibitions. In cities this is relatively easy to arrange but even in rural communities priests and lay church people are prepared to help schools.

The Citizenship Foundation would be an excellent starting point. It claims to help 80% of secondary schools to nurture citizenship, and sets out to inspire young people to contribute to society. The Association for Citizenship Teaching also provides advice and teaching resources, while the National Centre for Citizenship and the Law delivers law and justice education at national heritage sites.

 

Main organisations:

Citizenship Foundation 

Association for Citizenship Teaching

National Centre for Citizenship and the Law

PSHE Association

Democratic Life

Hansard Society

Inclusion: NASEN

 

Thought of visiting?

The Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood, Bethnal Green

National Trust Museum of Childhood, Sudbury, Derbyshire

Museum of Childhood, Edinburgh

The London Museum

The National Archives, Kew

Houses of Parliament

Welsh Assembly

Scottish Parliament

Northern Ireland Assembly

 

Although every visit can result in learning outcomes for Citizenship, for a complete list of venues and providers who deliver specialist courses and activities for this subject see below:

St Abb's Head National Nature Reserve

Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
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Formed by a series of volcanic eruptions, the craggy landscape of St Abb’s Head on the Berwickshire coast is a National Nature Reserve famous for its clamouring seabirds, rugged coastline, rich grasslands and crystal-clear waters.

A veritable ‘seabird city’, St Abb’s Head is a year-round haven for birdwatchers, walkers and wildlife lovers.

The dramatic cliffs provide spectacular vantage points from which to watch thousands of nesting seabirds, including guillemots, kittiwakes and razorbills.

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Holsworthy Museum

Venue Type: 
Museums
Overall Rating: 
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The museum is housed in part of a building which is in itself a museum piece; a small manor house dating from the 17th century which was used as a parsonage in 1724.

There are five separate rooms, individually themed, which cover the history of Holsworthy, local tradesmen's tools, medical and apothecary items, World War II and a kitchen with its original cobbled floor, copper and fireplace.

The museum was completely refurbished in 1999 and an entrance porch built giving direct access to the museum from the town's main car park.

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Stockwood Discovery Centre

Venue Type: 
Museums
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The Stockwood Discovery Centre is designed with environmentally green and sustainable principles in mind.

With interactive display, variety of gardens, children play area, special events and activities, bee gallery and much more, it is a wonderful visitor attraction and museum. Collection highlights include the Wenlok Jug, the Shillington gold coin hoard and the Mossman collection.

It tells the stories of real people behind the collections, exploring the history of the region from prehistoric times to the evolution of Stockwood House and the Farley estate.

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Battlefield Falconry Centre

Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
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A friendly, family run business with a wonderful collection of over 30 birds of prey to see, including owls, hawks, and falcons. A number of experiences available for accompanied children aged 14 and older.

Recent additions that the kids won’t want to miss are a Great Grey Owl and a Steppe Eagle, there is also a Green Winged Macaw called Woody!

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Fontmell and Melbury Downs

Open expanses of flowery downland and far-reaching views
Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
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This area of natural beauty was bought in memory of Thomas Hardy, to protect the landscape in which his novels are set. Fontmell Down and Harding's Down offer stunning views that stretch for miles across the Blackmore Vale.

From the car park at the top of Spread Eagle Hill, you can embark on many circular walks across the chalk downland. It's a fantastic place to spot butterflies and orchids, which thrive here.

Head north towards Compton Down and Melbury Hill and you will find one of the best displays of glow-worms during June and July (if the weather is good).

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Bayham Old Abbey

Venue Type: 
Religious Buildings
Overall Rating: 
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Bayham Abbey makes a fascinating day out on the Kent-Sussex border. The impressive ruins include much of the 13th to 15th-century church, the chapter house, and a picturesque 14th-century gatehouse.

Now set in grounds designed by famous landscape gardener Humphry Repton, who also planned the grounds of Kenwood House in London. Rooms in the 'Georgian Gothick' dower house are also open to visitors.

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Matlock Farm Park

Venue Type: 
Farms
Overall Rating: 
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Set in part of a 600 acre working farm, which provides a varied selection of animals to see including llamas, goats, peacocks and red deer. Kids will also enjoy the adventure playground and the go kart track!

Educational Visits

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Creswell Crags

A limestone gorge honeycombed with caves and smaller fissures
Venue Type: 
Outdoor Activity
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Stone tools and remains of animals found in the caves by archaeologists provide evidence for a fascinating story of life during the last Ice Age between 50,000 and 10,000 years ago. Great idea for family days out in Nottinghamshire.

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Hod Hill

Dorset's largest hill fort renowned for its downland wildlife
Venue Type: 
Historic Buildings & Monuments
Overall Rating: 
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Explore the earthworks from both the Roman and Iron Age periods and imagine what it would've looked like thousands of years ago.

Take a closer look at the five entrances through the ramparts, two of which are Iron Age, two Roman and one medieval. And once inside the hill fort you'll see remains of buildings and property boundaries in the form of circular hollows and ridges.

Hod Hill is also home to a variety of plants and animals. The thin chalk soils on the steep ramparts are ideal for fine grasses, sedges and flowers and these attract a wealth of butterflies.

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Plantasia

Venue Type: 
Wildlife and Nature
Overall Rating: 
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Come and explore our unique tropical haven of wonderful plants and animals situated in the heart of the city.

Why Plantasia?

The City and County of Swansea take their Environmental responsibility very seriously and were inspirational and forward thinking when they decided to create a Rainforest in the middle of the City to highlight the need and importance of looking after and protecting the World we live in. Rainforests are so important as they are the lungs of the World and contain over half the world's species of plants and animals.

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