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Year 8 Student

Citizenship

The GCSE Citizenship curriculum is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and understanding required to engage confidently and meaningfully in modern democratic society. Through the study of Citizenship, students develop an awareness of their rights and responsibilities as active citizens, gain a secure understanding of how democracy operates, and explore how individuals and groups can influence society. The course encourages students to become informed, reflective, and active participants within their communities, fostering a strong sense of civic responsibility beyond the classroom.

 

In Year 9, students study Life in Modern Britain. This unit introduces key aspects of British society, including diversity, shared values, the rule of law, and what it means to be a citizen in the UK today. This foundational knowledge prepares students for more complex political and legal concepts later in the course.

 

In Year 10, students study both Rights and Responsibilities and Politics and Participation. Through Rights and Responsibilities, students explore human rights, the legal system, and the responsibilities individuals have within society. In Politics and Participation, students examine the UK’s political system, including elections, political parties, voting, and the importance of political participation in shaping government policy.

 

Students also complete their Active Citizenship Project in Year 10. This is delivered primarily as a home learning project, allowing students to research real-world issues, plan informed actions, and demonstrate how citizens can bring about change within their community or society more broadly.

 

Home learning plays an important role in consolidating and enriching classroom learning. Students complete regular home learning activities through Seneca and Oak Academy, which are used to reinforce key knowledge, support independent learning, and promote regular retrieval practice. This approach helps students to revisit prior learning, strengthen long-term memory, and build confidence ahead of assessments.

 

In Year 9, Citizenship is taught for 50 minutes per fortnight. In Year 10, this increases to 100 minutes per fortnight, supported by fortnightly after-school intervention sessions to help reinforce learning and support exam preparation.

At the end of Year 10 pupils’ will be sitting 2 AQA Citizenship exam papers. Paper 1 is on their Active Citizenship project and Politics and Participation. Paper 2 is on Life in Modern Britain and Rights and Responsibilities.

Seneca set fortnightly.