Citizenship
The introduction of dedicated Year 8 Citizenship lessons is essential to actively realise our school motto: “Students of today, citizens of tomorrow.” This curriculum is specifically designed to embed our core values, ensuring students transition from learners into proactive, ethical community members.
Citizenship directly fosters confidence by providing a safe platform for structured debate, allowing students to articulate their opinions clearly and persuasively. It develops determination as they critically analyze complex social and political issues, requiring sustained effort to research solutions and understand differing viewpoints.
These lessons are crucial for moral growth, cultivating kindness through the study of empathy and social responsibility towards diverse groups, and instilling deep respect for the rule of law and differing democratic opinions. Finally, by exploring their rights and duties, Year 8 students develop a tangible sense of responsibility, moving beyond theoretical knowledge to understand how their individual actions impact both local and global communities. This programme ensures they are well-prepared to be the engaged, contributing citizens of the future.
Citizenship Curriculum Rationale
The National Curriculum for Citizenship at Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9) mandates that teaching must develop pupils’ understanding of democracy, government, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Specifically, Year 8 content should focus on:
Political System: A sound knowledge of how the UK is governed, the role of Parliament, voting, and elections, and the functions of political parties.
Law and Justice: The nature of rules and laws, the justice system (police, courts, tribunals), and the protection of precious liberties.
Finance and Economy: The functions and uses of money, the importance and practice of budgeting, and managing risk.
Active Citizenship: Understanding the roles of public institutions and voluntary groups and how citizens work together to improve their communities.
We are pleased that the recent National Curriculum and Assessment Review reinforces and modernises the need for core civic skills, particularly in response to the digital age. Key recommendations relevant to our planned Year 8 curriculum include:
Enhanced Media Literacy: The review stresses the need to equip young people with the skills to critically examine and evaluate information, including identifying mis- and disinformation (fake news).
Financial Literacy: The review calls for a greater emphasis on financial education to prepare young people for life and work.
Oracy and Debate: A renewed focus on speaking and listening skills (oracy) is highlighted, with the expectation that debate and reasoned arguments are embedded across all subjects.
Our new draft Citizenship curriculum, launched in September 2025, focuses on active participation and civic responsibility. In line with best practice, it will be continuously reviewed and adapted throughout the year to ensure all lessons precisely reflect our educational rationale and meet the evolving needs of our students.
| Term 1: Business Studies and Enterprise |
| Understand the definition and purpose of a business.
Differentiate between needs and wants in society. Identify different sectors (primary, secondary, tertiary). Understand what enterprise means and the role of an entrepreneur. Understand how business ideas are developed. Learn how businesses find out what customers want. Compare sole traders, partnerships, and limited companies. Understand the purpose and components of a business plan. Understand how marketing and branding help a business. Understand basic business finance terms. Learn how to pitch a business idea effectively. Present and evaluate business ideas. |
| Term 2: Politics, Philosophy and Psychology |
| Politics
Understand the concept of politics and why it matters Compare different systems of government. Learn how laws are made in the UK Parliament. Understand the difference between rights and responsibilities. Philosophy Explore what philosophy is and how we use it in life. Understand how we decide what is right and wrong. Introduce arguments for and against the existence of God. Explore Plato’s Allegory of the Cave. Psychology Introduce psychology as the study of the mind and behaviour. Explore how people learn (classical and operant conditioning). Understand how memory works and why we forget. Explore personality and what makes us who we are. |
| Term 3: Media Studies |
| What is Media?
Defining different media forms (print, broadcast, digital) and their key purposes (inform, entertain, persuade). Codes and Conventions: The Media Language Identifying common ‘media language’ elements like camera angles, lighting, sound, and typography. Genre Finding the Pattern Exploring how genre (e.g., horror, news, advert) is created through a set of predictable conventions and expectations. Target Audience Who is Watching? Analysing how media texts are created to appeal to specific demographics and psychographics. The Power of Representation Investigating how different groups of people (age, gender, ethnicity) are portrayed in the media and why. Stereotypes: Quick Fixes and Harmful Effects Discussing the use of stereotypes, their appeal to audiences, and their social consequences. Media Industries: Who Makes the Media? Exploring the institutions behind media production (e.g., film studios, newspapers, big tech) and their commercial goals. News Media: Truth, Bias, and ‘Fake News’ Critically evaluating different news sources and understanding the concepts of bias and impartiality. The Influence of Advertising Analysing persuasive techniques used in advertisements and exploring how they manipulate desire. Your Own Media Production Challenge Planning and creating a short media text (e.g., a magazine cover, a short advert, or a news clip) applying learned concepts. |
