Education for citizenship and the teaching of democracy in schools

social and moral responsibility (an essential pre-condition for citizenship),
community involvement and political literacy, and which are developed
progressively as pupils move through schooling from age five to 16.
6.5.3 Essential elements
The concepts, values and dispositions, skills and aptitudes, and knowledge
and understanding which underpin effective education for citizenship: these
are implicit in the aim and purpose statement and the strands of citizenship
education and provide the basis for the learning outcomes.
6.5.4 Learning outcomes
(a) These are set out by key stages as part of a new statutory entitlement to
citizenship education for all pupils in schools.
(b) A clear understanding of the four components and the ways they relate to
each other will help teachers use the framework to develop a variety of
teaching approaches, learning opportunities and experiences which, together,
constitute effective education for citizenship in schools.
6.6 Aim and purpose
The purpose of citizenship education in schools and colleges is to make
secure and to increase the knowledge, skills and values relevant to the nature
and practices of participative democracy; also to enhance the awareness of
rights and duties, and the sense of responsibilities needed for the
development of pupils into active citizens; and in so doing to establish the
value to individuals, schools and society of involvement in the local and
wider community.
Democratic institutions, practices and purposes must be understood, both
local and national, including the work of parliaments, councils, parties,
pressure groups and voluntary bodies; to show how formal political activity
relates to civil society in the context of the United Kingdom and Europe, and
to cultivate awareness and concern for world affairs and global issues. Some
understanding of the realities of economic life is needed including how
taxation and public expenditure work together.
6.7 The strands
6.7.1 Social and moral responsibility
Children learning from the very beginning self-confidence and socially and
morally responsible behaviour both in and beyond the classroom, both
towards those in authority and towards each other (this is an essential
pre-condition for citizenship).
6.7.2 Community involvement
Pupils learning about and becoming helpfully involved in the life and
concerns of their communities, including learning through community
involvement and service to the community.
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