Citizenship in work-based
learning
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There is much successful
post-16 citizenship provision in
work-based learning settings,
often with learners on Entry to
Employment (E2E) programmes and Apprenticeships, covering
occupational sectors from
business administration to
marine engineering and retail.
Often citizenship is linked to
existing programmes, especially
Key Skills, employment
rights and responsibilities
in Apprenticeships, and the
personal and social development
strand and basic/key skills in
E2E. In some cases citizenship
is linked to vocational learning,
with individual and group
projects on topics such as
recycling, pollution,
town planning, fair trade,
equality and diversity. Download a copy of our leaflet on citizenship in work-based learning providers. See also an article from Citizenship News on research on citizenship in the work-based route or order or download our free introduction to post-16 citizenship effective practice work-based learning booklet.
Benefits
Successful citizenship
education increases
confidence, self-esteem
and motivation for learning.
Learners are encouraged
to express their views,
have a voice, make
a difference in their
communities and reflect
on what they have learned.
Case study
Fareport Training Organisation
is a private training company that provides training forabout 200 learners. It now has a thriving programme of
citizenship activities as part of its Entry to Employment (E2E)
programme. The learners on the programme spend one day
a week studying a wide range of social and political issues
through discussions, presentations, visits and work with
visiting speakers. They have also taken part in question-time
sessions with local politicians, including one event at Westminster. Fareport Training Organisation has been
pleased with the success of the programme and has noticed
an improvement in learners’ motivation and confidence.
Examples of approaches to citizenship provision
- Learner involvement in decision-making and
representative structures, eg learner councils or
forums and trade unions
- Dedicated citizenship qualifications (see below)
- Integrated into other taught programmes or qualifications,
eg Key Skills
- As part of induction and support 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
- OCR Entry-level Certificate in Citizenship Studies (Entry 3)
- BTEC Entry-level Certificate in Life Skills
- (Citizenship and Community Studies)
- GCSE Citizenship Studies short course
- Level 3 citizenship qualifications also available
Listening to the work-based learner
"Having an effective system of learner feedback and, more importantly, acting decisively on the results, is the best possible proof of the commitment to a genuine learner-centred approach. But trainee feedback is not just another device in the quality assurance toolkit; it’s a powerful channel for two-way communication between trainer and trainee, the full potential of which has yet to be exploited. It can itself be a valuable medium for learning, helping to raise awareness of the contribution the individual employee can make to continuous process improvement in the workplace. By actively involving young people in the decisions that affect them most directly, it can play a valuable part in post-16 citizenship development. It can enable the sector skills bodies to gather new and vital data to inform their strategic planning and, at national level, it can provide a crucial litmus test for future education and training policy." John Berkeley, DfES report on listening to the work-based learner. See also a report on a pilot of the national trainee feedback system.
Post-16 citizenship champion projects
Post-16 citizenship champion work-based learning providers that you are welcome to contact to find out more about their post-16 citizenship provision are:
Work-based learning providers online forum
Post your comments on the citizenship in work-based learning online forum.
Links to relevant articles from Citizenship News
View, download or print articles which relate to citizenship in work-based learning.
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