When we mentioned to some of our students that the Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove, was considering downgrading the status of Citizenship in the national curriculum, they scurried off (and without any prompting from us), came back with this letter. Our local MP happened to be visiting the next day, so they personally [...]
…Continue reading '‘Dear Mr Gove… ‘ – from pupils at Blackfen School'News & comment
English PEN lends its weight to Democratic Life
Friday, December 23rd, 2011
English PEN are delighted to be part of the Supporting Group for Democratic Life and we will do all that we can through our own campaigns, projects and networks to promote this work. English PEN comes to citizenship through literature and free speech.
…Continue reading 'English PEN lends its weight to Democratic Life'Citizenship education is ‘of enormous importance’, but not a subject, says Expert Panel
Tuesday, December 20th, 2011
The Curriculum Review Expert Panel has told the government that citizenship is ‘of enormous importance’, but should not remain a National Curriculum subject. The Expert Panel, which is charged with providing detailed advice on the shape of the new curriculum, delivered its report to the Department for education yesterday, the content of which prompted Education [...]
…Continue reading 'Citizenship education is ‘of enormous importance’, but not a subject, says Expert Panel'Blunkett calls on Prime Minister to intervene on citizenship in the curriculum
Thursday, December 15th, 2011
David Blunkett calls on the Prime Minister to ensure Citizenship stays in the National Curriculum during Prime Minister’s Questions.
…Continue reading 'Blunkett calls on Prime Minister to intervene on citizenship in the curriculum'DfE responds to Democratic Life’s ITT letter
Wednesday, December 7th, 2011
An official from the Department for Education has responded to Democratic Life’s letter to the Secretary of State, Michael Gove MP, regarding initial teacher training for citizenship. … Thank you for your letter of 10 November, addressed to the Secretary of State, about initial teacher training bursaries and the teaching of citizenship. I am sure [...]
…Continue reading 'DfE responds to Democratic Life’s ITT letter'‘The necessity of teaching citizenship’ by Lord Norton of Louth
Wednesday, December 7th, 2011
Lord Norton of Louth is a Conservative Peer in the House of Lords, as well as Professor of Government in the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Hull. Here he writes for Democratic Life on why he thinks the Government should be embracing citizenship education ‘with vigour’. When I visit schools [...]
…Continue reading '‘The necessity of teaching citizenship’ by Lord Norton of Louth'Democratic Life writes to Michael Gove: Why isn’t citizenship a ‘priority subject’?
Tuesday, November 15th, 2011
Democratic Life has written to the Secretary of State, Michael Gove MP and the Chief Executive of the Training and Development Agency to clarify the plans for Initial Teaching Training for Citizenship. The plans, published on 8 November 2011, leave Citizenship as a ‘non priority’ subject and without any bursaries to help attract the best [...]
…Continue reading 'Democratic Life writes to Michael Gove: Why isn’t citizenship a ‘priority subject’?'Parliament Week: Young People’s Question Time
Democratic Life skipped trick or treating this week in favour of attending the Hansard Society’s Question Time event for young people, part of Parliament Week. Chaired by Channel 4′s Krishnan Guru-Murthy, the panel featured Chris Bryant MP (Labour), Sam Gyimah MP (Conservative), Caroline Lucas MP (Green) and Jo Swinson MP (Liberal Democrat). More than 200 [...]
…Continue reading 'Parliament Week: Young People’s Question Time'Parliament Week briefing
Tuesday, October 11th, 2011
Democratic Life has briefed all MPs and Peers ahead of Parliament Week, calling on Parliamentarians to use Parliament Week to visit citizenship education classes in schools and colleges in their constituencies. The briefing also provides a summary of Democratic Life’s evidence to the National Curriculum Review currently being undertaken by the Department for Education (DfE). Download our [...]
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Looking ahead: what does the future hold for citizenship education?
Thursday, January 26th, 2012
Citizenship could lose its National Curriculum status if the Government accepts the recommendations of the Curriculum Review Expert Panel to downgrade the subject to the basic curriculum. What kind of curriculum framework will help ensure the next generation of citizens get the civic and political education they need? Our new paper Curriculum Thinking defines the [...]
…Continue reading 'Looking ahead: what does the future hold for citizenship education?'Posted in News, News & comment | 1 Comment »