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Developing Post-16 Citizenship provision within work based learning

The aim of this project was to support, guide and develop programmes of citizenship within training provider organisations. Sharon Walters, an experienced former citizenship teacher at a London-based training provider, took the lead on this work with practitioners from Landmark Training – a provider of work-based training programmes for learners aged 14-24 and JHP Training which delivers a wide range of training programmes, including Apprenticeships, NVQs and e2e and Camden Jobtrain, a vocational courses provider with considerable experience delivering post-16 citizenship.

Initially, Sharon ran a workshop at a London post-16 citizenship regional network meeting about Post-16 citizenship and work-based training. The workshop was designed to:

  • To demonstrate ways to integrate Citizenship teaching into existing programmes To offer advice on where to find resources
  • To discuss ideas on how to engage young people and colleagues
  • To consider the importance of active Citizenship within training organisations
  • To provide a forum to share ideas and discuss any issues

Powerpoint slides on post-citizenship and work-based learning were used by Sharon during the workshop session which she had invited a variety of training providers to attend. Subsequently Sharon continued to make contact with other training providers in the region and Sharon visited Landmark Training, JHP Training and Camden Jobtrain to discuss citizenship provision in more details and used the slides informally as part of those meetings. Sharon took with her a selection of post-16 citizenship publications to share with practitioners she was visiting – they found it very helpful to have Sharon point out particular teaching and learning activities within the publications and then refer to the QCA guidance for post-16 citizenship to understand how the activities relate to the recommended framework. Several of the people Sharon met have now joined the post-16 citizenship regional network and for example, Landmark Training in particular are planning to adapt their session plans to reflect what they have learned about post-16 citizenship and the work-based route as well as use some funding to establish a citizenship through video project using the publication ‘Choosing an angle – citizenship through video production’.

Summary of meetings:

Landmark Training

Citizenship delivery and learning was discussed with members of the management team. Following further discussions with Tasmeen Pervaiz, e2e Coordinator, it was decided to arrange a further appointment to discuss citizenship in more detail with her and her colleagues.

Sharon met with the literacy, citizenship and jobsearch tutor, a learning mentor, administrator, and PSD & jobsearch tutor at Landmark Training’s offices. The team were keen to discuss current teaching practices and adopt new ways of enhancing their citizenship sessions within their organisation. After initial introductions, Sharon explained her role and experience and later ran through some of the materials she had brought with her which included, More than words: citizenship through art and Post-16 citizenship in work-based learning: an introduction to effective practice, Getting the show on the road: skills for planning and running citizenship events and We all came here from somewhere: Diversity, identities and citizenship.

At the time Landmark Training held monthly citizenship themed sessions and events, for example young people and the law. After the meeting they decided they should change their approach and run two or three citizenship sessions every week. Landmark learners are mainly interested in office administration and customer service and they are keen to work in ways that enable learners to integrate citizenship within their current programme of study.

Tutors generally feel that their learners have a glamorised view of prison life and are keen to arrange a visit to a young offender’s institution or prison to allow learners to gain a more realistic view. In addition to this tutors are keen to run citizenship sessions which are literacy-based.

Sample lesson plans which are due to be further developed are reproduced here with kind permission of Landmark Training:

JHP Training

Sharon initially spoke to Francesca Muratori (e2e Coordinator) who informed her that JHP Training were in the infancy of developing their citizenship provision and that they tend to deliver it within PSHE sessions. They both felt that a meeting could offer JHP the support and guidance needed to develop an effective programme of study for the learners.

Subsequently a meeting was held between Francesca and Sharon which began by reviewing JHP’s past citizenship lesson plans and supporting teaching materials and went on to discuss barriers to delivery experienced by tutors and learners, looking at potential solutions. Sharon presented a range of post-16 citizenship materials to Francesca and it was agreed, as a starting point, Francesca would discuss the five stage process for planning citizenship assessment at a forthcoming e2e meeting with fellow delivery staff, deliver an introductory session from More than words: citizenship through art pack and review websites & teaching materials to prepare lessons in forthcoming weeks.

Francesca felt the meeting gave her the ideal opportunity to express concerns within a supportive environment. As a follow up to the meeting Sharon agreed to email a list of resources and review a citizenship scheme of work in June.

Camden Jobtrain

As a past LSN champion, Camden Jobtrain has a long-established programme of citizenship developed specifically for the needs of their vocational e2e learners (please see documents for outline). Now that they no longer have two tutors dedicated to citizenship delivery, the role has been embraced by two Personal Development tutors and it is now integrated into the PD sessions. The previously piloted and designed resource pack has now been adapted to fit in with the current curriculum of study. Through regular weekly PD sessions cover topics such as workers rights, contracts of employment, equal pay and working hours. Citizenship topics cover rights and responsibilities and the law, equality and diversity, sexual orientation, age discrimination and gender issues.

The tutors encourage activities where learners develop a variety of skills by, for example, carrying out presentations, designing campaign posters, carrying out research and acting out roleplays focussing on citizenship themes. Learners have been particularly interested in cultural diversity and have looked at ethnic minorities and the census in London, looking at positive and negative aspects of living in culturally diverse communities.

Camden Jobtrain continues a tradition of catering to the needs of their learners by ensuring citizenship reflects requests of the learners or their vocational course of learning. For example, the North London Line were brought in to work with Childcare learners to run a series of equal opportunities sessions which looked at child protection and child exploitation. With continued support and guidance they will continue to encourage ‘active’ citizenship to their e2e learners.

See the contents of Camden Jobtrain’s citizenship offer and an overview of personal development provision at Camden Jobtrain.

Outcomes:
Landmark Training plans to:

  • Deliver two to three citizenship sessions per week
  • Use a wide range of LSN materials which are adapted to suit the needs of their learners
  • Introduce a monthly magazine which focuses on citizenship themes and helps learners with literacy
  • Send a staff member to attend London post-16 citizenship regional network meetings.

JHP Training plans to:

  • Deliver begin delivering two to three citizenship sessions per week to Childcare learners
  • To use a wide range of LSN materials which are adapted to suit the needs of their learners
  • Design sessions based on learner needs which will be realised at their initial assessment

Camden Jobtrain plans to:

Contact information:

Sharon Walters - sharonwalters01@hotmail.com
07957 266 026

Landmark Training
Tasmeen Pervaiz - tasmeenpervaiz@landmarktraining.org.uk
Shahrukh Afzal - shahrukhafzal@landmarktraining.org.uk
020 8221 0500

JHP Training
Francesca.Muratori - francesca.muratori@jhp-group.com
020 8371 5978

Camden Jobtrain
Tanya Cain - t.cain@camden-jobtrain.org.uk
Neda Haghshenas - N.Haghshenas@camden-jobtrain.org.uk
020 7284 8024/020 7284 8000 Ext: 8218