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:
Association for Citizenship Teaching
National Centre for Citizenship and the Law (NCCL)
Inclusion: NASEN
Thought of visiting?
The Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood, Bethnal Green
National Trust Museum of Childhood, Sudbury, Derbyshire
The museum, at the Head Office of Scotland’s oldest bank, traces the history of banking and money through the story of the company.
This fascinating museum takes a fresh look at money – and much, much more. Art & design, technology, crime, trade and security – all feature in the story of money. We are open throughout the year and admission is FREE.
The history of the first municipal fire brigade in Europe and fire fighting in Edinburgh between 1824 and the 1940s. Created through the display of fire engines, equipment and uniforms.
The Museum of Edinburgh is the City’s treasure box - a maze of historic rooms crammed full of iconic objects from the Capital’s past.
Find out about the history of Edinburgh from the earliest times to the present day. Discover more about the city, its people, crafts and trades and the beautiful objects they created.
Described as 'the noisiest museum in the world', the Museum of Childhood in Edinburgh is a favourite with adults and children alike. It is a treasure house, crammed full of objects telling of childhood, past and present.
Young people can learn about the children of the past and see a fantastic range of toys and games, while adults enjoy a trip down memory lane.
Using artefacts, illustrations and video and audio presentations, The Linlithgow Story at Annet House Museum tells of the town, its people and trades and its connections with Scotland’s Stewart kings. The peaceful garden has been restored and has fine views across the rooftops to the ruined Linlithgow Palace and St. Michael’s Church.
Numismatics
John Muir's life and work has inspired people all over the world. Now the Dunbar birthplace of the pioneering conservationist has been transformed into a new visitor attraction. Our family-friendly interpretative centre explores the work and achievements of this remarkable man.
The John Gray Centre Museum is located on the first floor of the Centre. This 5-star museum tells the story of East Lothian from its earliest settlers to present-day communities. Explore the land, the sea and the people of this historic region through our film, audio guides, activity sheets and handling objects.
Visit Hopetoun and discover a place of beauty, tranquility and architectural magnificence dating from the 17th century. It has been home to the Hope Family since the late 1600s and the present Lord Hopetoun and his family still live in Hopetoun House.
The museum has on display 40 life masks and death masks of renowned individuals from famous scientists and politicians to notorious murderers. Plus skeletons and other anatomical items and sketches from the last 200 years.
The museum is open daily to the public.
History
The historic Dunbar Town House, built towards the end of the 16th century, contains what is considered Scotland's oldest functioning Council Chamber.
Spanning a history of more than 400 years, the building has recently been given a 21st century refurbishment and is now open to the public, complete with a brand new museum and gallery exhibition space managed by the Museums Service.
The former North Berwick Museum was re-opened in July 2013 as the new Coastal Communities Museum. Come and visit our new exhibition of the artist Henry Scott Tuke.
Enjoy a visit to the City Art Centre, a main Edinburgh art gallery with one of the best collections of Scottish art. We show interesting exhibitions from our own collections and from all over the world. We can also tempt you with an attractive shop located on the ground floor.
Visit the museum to see and hear stories of old Uphall and Broxburn in our "Strathbrock Stories" display between May and September. We show two temporary exhibitions during the rest of the year.
A community museum housed in the stable block of an old coaching inn. Open during library times, the museum relates the story of Blackridge’s coaching and travelling past. An exhibition on the history of the village with objects donated by local people is regularly shown, interspersed with displays from West Lothian Council’s touring exhibition programme.
The Bennie Museum opened on 20th May 1989 as a museum of Bathgate’s history and life. It is run entirely by Volunteers under the management of a Charitable Trust.
It has been commended by the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions.
A display by the History of Armadale Association with lots of fascinating facts about life, work and leisure in Armadale over the last 200 years and more.
Come rain or shine, there's something for everyone at Almond Valley. We're open throughout the year and with many attractions under cover, there's plenty to see and do whatever the weather
There's so much for students to enjoy, and our play areas hold special appeal to those under ten years old. We'd recommend that you allow at least four hours for your visit.
Discover the story of the lead miners of Minera, the village named after the ore beneath, at Minera Lead Mines visitor centre and explore the remains of the 19th century lead processing works, where they worked.
Now a Scheduled Ancient Monument, John Wilkinson, the pioneering industrialist, built Penrhos Engine House in the late 18th Century, in order to house an engine to pump water from his coal mine on the site. It is thought to be the earliest surviving colliery engine house in Wales.
The Tolbooth Art Centre is based in Kirkcudbright's 17th century Tolbooth. This served previously as the Town Council offices, Burgh and Sheriff courts and the criminal and debtor's prison. One of its most famous prisoners was John Paul Jones, hero of the American Navy.
Newton Stewart is the gateway to the Galloway Hills and the Museum is an exciting place to visit in this fascinating region.
Stranraer's historic Old Town Hall, built in 1776, is the home of Stranraer Museum.
Step inside and discover Wigtownshire's fascinating past. See one of Scotland's oldest ploughs, look at Victorian Wigtownshire in 3-D photographs and follow in the footsteps of Stranraer's own Polar explorers.
This 18th-century Georgian house is the former home of Scottish painter E A Hornel, one of the Glasgow Boys.
Broughton House & Garden prefers to tour groups around the property and garden out of hours - for example before midday. Topics include 'An Edwardian home', 'Art styles at Broughton' and 'Local literature'.
Opened in 1901, the Dick Institute is one of the most important cultural venues in the south-west of Scotland, featuring the largest museum and galleries space in Ayrshire as well as East Ayrshire's central library.
The Scottish Maritime Museum boasts a range of Scotland’s rich maritime collection.
The collection not only includes historic vessels, shipbuilding machinery, machinery tools, small vessels, canoes and lifeboats, but also personal items of socio-historic interest.
The Bushcraft Company offer residential school trips with a difference, taking students into the wild and giving them real back-to-nature experiences they will never forget.
A 15-year-old boy fell 60ft over the edge of a cliff whilst on a geography school trip, miraculously only suffering minor injuries.