Welcome to Citizenship

Our department aims to teach young people about the world in which we live – locally, nationally, in Europe and globally.

We aim to make them aware of the society in which they will grow into adulthood – its people, how it is organised, their own rights and responsibilities etc. In this way, we hope they will develop into responsible members of the society of the future.

We hope to teach our students how to take responsibility for themselves and to consider all members of society. We hope they will grow into people who will ‘make a difference’ to the world in which we live.

Our students are encouraged to take an active part in helping those less fortunate than themselves, both at home and abroad. They willingly undertake the challenge of raising money for charity appeals such as Children in Need and Comic Relief and we aim to form closer links with the local community in order to contribute either money or practical help for local organisations.​

What is Citizenship about?​​​​​​​​​​

‘Citizenship is more than a statutory subject. If taught well and tailored to local needs, its skills and values will enhance democratic life for us all, both rights and responsibilities, beginning in school and radiating out’
Professor Bernard Crick, Birkbeck College, London

Citizenship is taught through an appreciation of three main ideas:

• Social and moral responsibility

Students learning – from the beginning – self confidence and socially and morally responsible behaviour

• Community involvement

Students learning about becoming helpfully involved in the life and concerns of their school, neighbourhood and wider communities

• Political literacy

Students learning about the institutions, issues, problems and practices of our democracy and how citizens can make themselves effective in public life, locally, regionally and nationally through skills and values as well as knowledge.

At BVGS all students have a lesson a week of Citizenship. It is a progressive, spiral curriculum in KS3 and 4.