Assessment and qualifications
for post-16 citizenship
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Introduction
GCSE and A level citizenship
The Diploma
Extended Projects
AQA Baccalaureate
Qualifications at other levels
Documents and materials
Links
to articles from Citizenship News
Introduction
Download a summary of post-16 citizenship qualifications and a staff development activity on the range of post-16 qualifications which could be used to help you and your colleagues start thinking about the range of qualifications available for post-16 citizenship and which are appropriate in different education settings. See also our booklet on approaching citizenship through qualifications and personalised programmes.
‘Assessment of citizenship helps young people to recognise and value what they have learnt. It helps to identify the purposes and intended outcomes of citizenship learning and shows that such learning is important and rigorous’ (Play your part: post-16 citizenship guidance, QCA 2004)
All learners need to know what they have learnt, so that they can apply their new knowledge and skills, and decide what else they would like to learn. One student said:
‘The review session was good because I knew I’d improved on some levels, but I actually got to know why I’d improved…It gave me a good understanding of what I have learned and what I need to improve on.’ (Aylward School sixth form student from Make it happen: effective practice in post-16 citizenship DVD/video, LSDA, 2005
Recognition of new learning is very motivating. On-going assessment, which is central to the learning process, is called assessment FOR learning. It can involve self-assessment, peer- assessment, tutor-assessment, or a combination of all three.
Sometimes, a learning provider needs to be able to review learning at fixed points in the programme and make a judgement about overall progress. This is called assessment OF learning. However, it can still involve different kinds of assessment strategy, and it still supports the learning process.
Many learners want the recognition of their citizenship learning to be more formal, through awards and qualifications. There are some already available, and more are being developed. The QCA website contains a list of all relevant citizenship awards available.
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GCSE and A level citizenship
In England and Wales, three awarding bodies, AQA, Edexcel and OCR, offer short courses in Citizenship Studies at GCSE.
AQA has developed an A Level in Citizenship Studies for first teaching from 2008. AQA is the only examination board to develop this A Level and it builds on the popularity of AS Social Science: Citizenship offered by AQA at the moment. AQA has developed this A Level as part of its suite of Citizenship Qualifications from the Unit Award Scheme, through to GCSE, GCE, the Extended Project and components within the Specialised Diplomas. Students will address the relationship between the individual, the law and the state and the nature of identities at AS. At A2, students will study the principles and characteristics of justice systems, the nature of representative democracy, the role of parliament in the UK and contemporary global citizenship issues. Underpinning the course of study is the requirement for students to be actively engaged in a range of citizenship activities. The Specification as well as specimen question papers and mark schemes have been published on the AQA website. There is further information
on the AS and A Level Citizenship Studies section on the website, and in the Events section of the website on the meetings planned for teachers to come and find out more about the new specification.
Subject specific criteria for Citizenship Studies at GCE AS/A level have been developed by QCA (see the QCA website).
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The Diploma
QCA's cirriculum guidance states that Diploma learning should contribute to the overall curriculum aim for young people to become 'responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society' (QCA 2004). Some diploma delivery partnerships have mapped the citizenship programme of study against principal learning because there are various areas of overlap. The controversial and active dimensions of good citizenship teaching can enrich and enliven Diploma teaching. See our pack Crossing the lines: citizenship learning through Diplomas for activities to develop citizenship learning through Diplomas. See also:
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Extended projects
From September 2008 the new Extended Project qualification is offered as a stand-alone, level 3 qualification for A-level students and as a compulsory qualification for an Advanced Diploma. Projects are also being piloted at levels 1 and 2. Following research by QCA regarding recognising and assessing active citizenship participation, a joint working group involving QCA and AQA and a wide range of centres, trialled a Level 3 qualification in Active Citizenship which coincided with the development of the new Extended Projects. The Active Citizenship trial acted as a pilot for elements of the proposed Extended Project and the new qualifications offer much scope for accrediting citizenship activities.For further information, qualification specifications and details of pilots see AQA, Edexcel and OCR. See also our quick guide on citizenship through extended projects and our pack Citizenship opportunities through foundation, higher and extended projects.
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AQA Baccalaureate
AQA has developed the ‘AQA Bacc’ designed to celebrate the achievements of well-rounded post-16 students. It comprises four elements which together demonstrate that students have achieved success in terms of A levels and wider learning and enrichment activities. Citizenship forms a key option via which students working towards the Bacc can demonstrate breadth of study. The AQA Bacc encourages active citizenship and community involvement and aims to demonstrate the skills and personal qualities which employers and universities are looking for.
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Qualifcations at other levels
There is also an entry level qualification available:
BTEC Entry level Certificate in Life Skills (Citizenship & Community Studies)
At postgraduate level, Birkbeck College, University of London, will launch a new MSc in Citizenship Studies available from September 2008. The programme is interdisciplinary and will draw together theory, policy, research and practice relevant for those interested in developing their knowledge of theories and research on citizenship and applying this in the fields of nationality, immigration and education. To find out more please see further information on MSc in Citizenship Studies.
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Documents and Materials
Materials including explanatory documents about assessment in citizenship as well as materials developed by organisations offering post-16 citizenship which can be used for assessing learning and recognising citizenship achievement with learners are available to browse from this website.
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Links to relevant articles from Citizenship News
Please feel free to view, download or print a range of articles about assessing post-16 citizenship from back issues of Citizenship News.
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