Citizenship studies is an exciting course to take for GCSE. It’s not just about sitting in classrooms but gets you out and about. You will be involved in community activity which you plan and organise. Previous years have taken part in the YPI challenge where one group of students from the school will win £3000 to give to a local charity of their choice. You will also plan a campaign for an issue that you choose and really care about. Previous campaigns have been about animal rights, Stop the War, Votes at 16 and Stop Human Trafficking. The course builds on citizenship lessons from Years, 7, 8 and all sorts of things you have done before in English, Geography and History.
If you are interested in the world and people around you, Citizenship is the subject for you. It helps you to make decisions for yourself on all sorts of issues. We are bombarded with information about things like the environment, fair trade and people’s rights across the world, but most of us find it hard to work out what’s right and wrong. Citizenship helps you to develop the skills you need to decide for yourself. You will investigate issues that really matter and work out what can be done about them. You will also learn skills in taking action and presenting cases.
You will learn lots of skills that will be useful in later life. Being able to see the world from other people’s points of view will always help you to understand what’s going on around you. The range of activities you will be involved in will help you to work with others and see the benefits of being part of a team – and even leading a team. You will learn to put a message together to persuade people of your point of view. There are lots of opportunities to put these skills to work when you reach 16. Whatever you do next – A Levels, a Diploma or an apprenticeship – you will find that citizenship is an integral part of the course.
The course is worth a full GCSE and we will also study elements of R&P so you dont miss out on R&P just because you choose Citizenship and vice versa!
