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Citizenship extended projects
By Michael Mitchell
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, a trial commenced in October 2005 and ran until May 2006 of a Level 3 qualification in Active Citizenship. This development coincided with the development of the new Extended Projects. The Active Citizenship trial therefore also acted as a pilot for elements of the proposed Extended Project.
The Active Citizenship qualification had at its core a programme of study based upon three themes; Identity, Rights and Responsibility and Governance.
Students were expected to develop an active citizenship task based upon one or more of these three themes. For the trial six titles were provided for centres to use if suitable to their needs. In the Extended Project students will submit a proposal form for external approval.
Students were encouraged to work with others in completing their activity.
The activity had three elements; research, developing a hypothesis and planning, taking action and finally reflection and evaluation. Students were provided with a Skills Profile which as well as providing them with guidance in regard to their activity enabled them to maintain an evidence log. Throughout the trial centre tutors monitored students’ activity and provided support via the Profile.
It was not intended that students provide vast amounts of documentation or folders of collected materials. The formal assessment was centre-based: each group of students were required to undertake a fifteen minute presentation regarding their activity. This was followed by five minute individual orals. Assessment was carried out via a marking grid which allowed centres to arrive at level decisions based upon the evidence from the Profile, the presentation and the oral.
Awarding for the trial was carried out as an inter-centre moderation/ awarding meeting involving centre representatives and AQA moderators.
Centres were requested to film the presentations and orals and this material was available at the moderation/awarding meeting. In line with the proposed Extended Project candidates were either awarded a Pass, Merit or Distinction award.
The feedback from centres was that students gained a real ‘buzz’ from this work; it helped develop a wide range of skills and involved a diverse range of outside bodies. Many students actually felt that their contribution did make a difference.
If you would like to be a part of the Extended Project pilot which is LSC funded and carries UCAS points, please contact Cath Jadhav at AQA at cjadhav@aqa.org.uk
Michael Mitchell has taught citizenship at Key Stages 3, 4 and 5 for over thirty years. He is currently the Pathway Co-ordinator for PGCE Secondary Citizenship at the University of Plymouth and con currently Head of Social Science at Exmouth Community College. Michael is also currently a chief examiner for both GCSE and GCE Citizenship with a major awarding body and was a member of the team that developed the Active Citizenship Extended Project as were staff and students at his college. Exmouth Community College is LSN Post 16 Citizenship Champion centre.
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