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 (NCCL)

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

Venues for this Curriculum

The World's Only Submarium!

The Deep is one of the most spectacular aquariums in the world and is home to a whopping 3,500 fish including Europe’s only pair of green sawfish, spectacular sharks and rays and NEW FOR 2014 - a colony of Gentoo penguins.

Ragley Hall was first opened in 1958 and the State Rooms were gradually restored to their former glory. The 8th Marquess made his mark on Ragley by commissioning Graham Rust to create a modern mural, The Temptation, in the South Staircase Hall which took fourteen years to complete and features several family members and pets.

Fordhall Farm is an inspiring example of how farming can become a force for sustainable education and change as well as a producer of fine, local organic food. Located on the outskirts of Market Drayton in North Shropshire, Fordhall Farm is now owned by an Industrial and Provident Society made up of 7500 shareholders from across the UK and further afield. 

Erasmus Darwin House is a historic house and previous home of Dr Erasmus Darwin – scientist, doctor, inventor, poet, botanist and Grandfather of Evolution (as well as Charles Darwin!).

Planted over twenty years ago by brothers Lindsay and Edward Heyes, the fun of the aMazing Hedge Puzzle has made it Herefordshire's most popular private tourist attraction.

In a narrow tree-lined valley just north of Lydney in Gloucestershire lies the Dean Forest Railway. Run almost entirely by volunteers it offers visitors the chance to soak up the sight, sounds and smells of travel on a rural branch railway operated by steam trains – and the occasional heritage diesel.

From the world's first industrial city to 24-hour party capital, MOSI takes you on a journey through Manchester's heritage with sights, sounds and even smells! You can see what it was like to work in a cotton mill during one of our textile demonstrations, see one of the world's largest collections of working steam mill engines or even venture into a Victorian sewer.

Unstaffed open site, no booking required

A large area of beautiful downland and woodland, including West Wood. The Park is ideal for walking and picnicking, with fine views over central Hampshire, particularly from the interesting monument at Beacon Hill. 

The 'Horse Monument' at Farley Mount

The exciting, new £27 million Mary Rose Museum opened its doors to visitors last year. Located just metres from Nelson's flagship, HMS Victory and the ships of the modern Royal Navy, the new museum provides one of the most significant insights into Tudor life in the world and creates the new centrepiece to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

An enchanting 16th-century tower house, Crathes is surrounded by 240 hectares of formal gardens, woodland walks and rolling Scottish countryside. Guided tours are available for school groups in the Castle. The ranger service takes education visits to cover aspects of environmental education.

Located in the area where graphite was first mined for pencils and the first pencil factory was built in 1832. 

Home of the world's fastest car - Thrust II!

Coventry is the birthplace of the British cycle and motor industry. If you’re looking for a fantastic FREE day out for all the family, you can’t beat Coventry Transport Museum.

Discover how the Royal Navy helped shape the modern world through stories of courage and determination in our three exhibition galleries.

The Windermere Steamboat Museum has a nationally important collection of historic vessels demonstrating the continuous development of boatbuilding in the Lake District over 200 years from 1745. The collection, however, dates from 1200 all the way through to the late 20th century and is an important part of the dispersed national boat and maritime collection. 

National Railway Museum Shildon, also known as Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon or Shildon Locomotion Museum was built during 2004 at a cost of £11.3 million, and is based on the former "Timothy Hackworth Victorian Railway Museum".

Amerton Railway is a mile long 2 foot gauge line with spectacular seasonal specials, regular open days great for family trips, a railway museum and tours available of the Locomotive Shed.

It is home to a 115 year old W.G. Bagnall Saddle tank called Isabel, so important to Stafford that she was placed on a plinth outside of Stafford Railway Station until she was restored.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is an ideal day out for groups and tours.

Stephenson Railway Museum is open Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays until 2 November 2014 and all week during school holidays (excluding Christmas holidays). With heritage train rides on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays.

200 years since George Stephenson built his first locomotive Blucher.

A lovely miniature steam railway that runs on Sundays from the beginning of March to September. There is also a lovely 16mm gauge model railway to enjoy. Inexpensive, old fashioned fun.

It is definitely worth a visit if you are already in the area on a Sunday between from the beginning of March to September.

The Stream in the Sky!

It's our exhilarating stream in the sky. Our horseshoe of waterfalls in North East Wales. Our beautiful canal. Not one but two aqueducts. Our World Heritage Site. Breathtaking!

Five Amazing Attractions - One Amazing Trip!

Modelled on the Eiffel Tower, when Blackpool Tower opened in 1894 it was the tallest building in Britain. It took just 3 years to construct using 5 million bricks and over 2,500 tonnes of steel. It can be seen from as far afield as the Lake District and North Wales.

Mainly early 14th century remains of a large courtyard castle.

Also known as Llanblethian Castle, St Quentin's Castle near Cowbridge includes a massive twin-towered gatehouse. It is believed that the majority of the castle was built by Gilbert de Clare (the Last, d. 1314).

Unstaffed open site, no booking required

The National Waterfront Museum (Amgueddfa Genedlaethol y Glannau) tells the story of industry and innovation in Wales, now and over the last 300 years.

The Yorkshire Air Museum is the largest independent air museum in Britain and is also the location of  The Allied Air Forces Memorial. It is a Registered Charity and nationally accredited museum (No.66).

Pages

Login/Sign Up

Latest News

Schoolboy Falls From 60ft Cliff on School Trip

A 15-year-old boy fell 60ft over the edge of a cliff whilst on a geography school trip, miraculously only suffering minor injuries.