Citizenship in school sixth forms
Access keys Skip navigation
School sixth forms can offer a wide variety of approaches
to post-16 citizenship
with students involved in
accredited and non-accredited
programmes and often a
combination of both. Successful
provision often involves the
whole sixth form in a programme
of citizenship activity. Download a copy of our leaflet for schools or download or order a copy of our free introduction to post-16 citizenship effective practice in school sixth forms booklet. See also the website of the Association for Citizenship Teachers (ACT), details of how to join and their latest e-bulletin, Citizenship Focus (reproduced with kind permission from ACT).
Benefits
Successful citizenship education increases
confidence, self-esteem
and motivation for learning.
Students are encouraged
to express their views,
have a voice, make
a difference in their
communities and reflect
on what they have learned.
Case study
Exmouth Community College is a local authority‑maintained mixed comprehensive school
for 11–19 year olds. As part of its provision for sixth formers,
the school offers successful one‑year accredited citizenship
courses. Students either take GCSE Citizenship Studies
(short course) or AS level Social Science: Citizenship.
Both courses have proved popular with the students and
results have been good. The school believes that accredited
courses are a successful way to make citizenship education
a significant and well‑established part of the post-16 curriculum.
The school is now involved in the pilot of a new Level 3
Active Citizenship qualification.
Examples of approaches to citizenship provision
- Learner involvement in decision-making and representative structures, eg school and sixth form councils
- Dedicated citizenship qualifications (see below)
- Integrated into other taught programmes or qualifications, eg General Studies
- Group tutorial programmes
- Specially written courses or units for citizenship
- Voluntary community action and campaigns
- Special events, eg conferences and debates
- Individual or group research projects
Citizenship qualifications
- GCSE Citizenship Studies short course
- AS level Social Science: Citizenship
- From 2008, a revised AS level specification and full
- A-level in Citizenship Studies will be available
- Level 3 Active Citizenship qualification currently being piloted
Post-16 citizenship champion projects
Post-16 citizenship champion schools that you are welcome to contact to find out more about their post-16 citizenship provision are:
Citizenship in school sixth forms online forum
Post your comments on the citizenship in school sixth forms online forum.
Links to relevant articles from Citizenship News
View, download or print articles which relate to citizenship in school sixth forms.
Back to top