Today the Department for Education have published their final National Curriculum for secondary schools in England, including the revised programmes of study for Citizenship at key stages 3 and 4. We are delighted that Ministers have listened to our concerns about their previous draft. The final curriculum contains a number of specific changes that we called for […]

Yesterday a new report from the thinktank IPPR called on schools to lead the way in shaping our democratic life. The report was launched in Parliament and Chris Waller from ACT, a leading partner in Democratic Life was there to support the event. A ‘Citizen School’ is defined as “a school that explicitly creates a […]

We are urging supporters to make one last response to the DFE review of the National Curriculum to ensure Citizenship is the best it can be! Last week Michael Gove published his updated draft National Curriculum for maintained primary and secondary schools. Whilst we are reassured to see Citizenship is included as a statutory National […]

Michael Gove has published his updated draft National Curriculum for maintained primary and secondary schools. It is reassuring to see Citizenship will remain a separate statutory National Curriculum subject. However, the proposals miss out crucial aspects of Citizenship knowledge and skills which are necessary to prepare young people for life and work in the 21st […]

Peers from all political parties raised tough questions for Government last week about the resourcing to support Citizenship education in schools. However, Education Minister Lord Nash said Government’s commitment to Citizenship has been made ‘abundantly clear‘ by retaining the subject in the statutory National Curriculum. The debate in the House of Lords on Thursday 27 […]

Democratic Life is delighted to have been invited to attend the first oral evidence session of the Youth Select Committee inquiry into education next week. We looking forward to meeting the committee and contributing to their important investigations. The inquiry launched last month with a call for evidence. Democratic Life made a submission highlighting the […]

Democratic Life is delighted to make a submission today to the latest Youth Select Committee inquiry chaired by 18 year old MYP for Solihull, Natasha Browne. The Committee is the initiative of the British Youth Council and supported by the House of Commons and politicians including the Speaker, Rt Hon John Bercow. In our submission […]

This week, Democratic Life supporter, the British Youth Council announced a new inquiry by the Youth Select Committee into the role of the education system and the National Curriculum in equipping young people with the skills for later life. The inquiry, chaired by 18 year old Natasha Browne, Member of the Youth Parliament for Solihull, will […]