Let’s start with the good news. New GCSEs in Citizenship Studies are to be developed for 2016 and will continue to count in school performance tables.
And the not so good news…
GCSE numbers decline
The overall number of students taking GCSE Citizenship Studies has declined dramatically since 2010, but this year there was some good news in that the numbers taking the full course have doubled to 19,500.
The short course has seen numbers continue to plummet; in part because of the ongoing uncertainty about the future of the subject, until recent government confirmation that citizenship would remain on the National Curriculum.
There has also been a shift away from GCSE Citizenship Studies towards Ebacc subjects, although this trend may change again now the subject is safe and new GCSEs are in development.
Around 40,000 students took either the full course (FC) or short course (SC) citizenship GCSEs this year, compared to 94,000 who took just the short course in 2010. The fall comes against a background of what was a clear upward trend. [Source: Joint Council for Qualifications]
New GCSE Citizenship Studies likely to focus on assessment by exam
Recent changes to other subjects indicate that assessment is likely to be via 100 per cent examination. Currently, only 40 per cent of the GCSE citizenship studies is assessed via examination, with 60 per cent being non-examined assessments undertaken by students in controlled conditions.
This represents a huge change in the qualification and not necessarily a good one for subjects such as citizenship. Assessing student action some weeks after the event via exam is simply not the same as assessing it at the time it takes place; it puts limitations on the way in which citizenship skills can be tested validly.
How can you help?
There’s potentially a worrying trend here: GCSE citizenship studies could end up being about the more dry and examinable civics elements and less about learning to apply knowledge through active citizenship.
So, look out for two GCSE consultations for citizenship due at the end of this month: Ofqual will consult on assessment and the Department for Education will consult on content.
As always, we will provide an easy way for you to respond to the consultations. We’ll remind you when the time comes!
What else are we doing about it?
Democratic Life is working hard behind the scenes to help politicians and policy-makers understand what’s at stake if citizenship education isn’t taken seriously and assessed meaningfully.
We have met with education minister Nick Gibb and are meeting Shadow Education Secretary Tristram Hunt next month. We have strong support from former Education Secretary David Blunkett and are also talking with Estelle Morris and others in the House of Lords.
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