The DFE consultation on the proposed National Curriculum is now closed! Citizenship remains a statutory subject.

The secondary curriculum proposals announced by Michael Gove on 7 February 2013 were the subject of public consultation until 16 April 2013. Democratic Life is grateful to all those supporters who responded to this consultation and helped to ensure that citizenship remained a statutory National Curriculum subject in secondary education.

You can see Democratic Life’s response here.

Key points

• Citizenship will remain a statutory National Curriculum foundation subject at key stage 3 and 4. Government rejected advice from their Expert Panel to downgrade Citizenship.
• The proposed programmes of study have a new structure and include: a purpose of study statement, subject aims, teaching requirements and attainment targets. Level descriptions have been removed. The DFE is keen to hear whether the subject aims should be statutory.
• The proposed programmes of study are shorter than those in the 2007 National Curriculum and are focussed on the ‘essential knowledge’ that pupils should acquire. Concepts and skills are not included in the proposed teaching requirements.
• There are currently no plans to update the primary citizenship curriculum. Democratic Life is urging the DFE to revise the primary curriculum for citizenship and publish this along with the rest of the National Curriculum.

Key stage 3 and 4 proposals for Citizenship

We believe that five key improvements to the consultation draft programme of study are necessary. This is to ensure the essential Citizenship skills are included and there is clarity about the standards expected for the subject. Essential changes are needed, to:

1. Include a clear requirement to teach about human rights
2. Clarify active citizenship is not just volunteering but involves pupils taking part in genuine social and democratic action in their schools and communities
3. Enhance the new requirement for financial education to include economic understanding and public finance
4. Ensure key stage 3 is not solely focused on the UK but includes the European, international and global dimensions of the subject
5. Improve the subject aims and show appropriate progression between key stages 3 and 4, especially in key aspects such as the law.

The consultation documents can be read in full by following the links below:

National Curriculum Consultation framework document – 221 pages setting out the proposed general requirements and subject programmes of study for the secondary National Curriculum

Citizenship Programmes of Study at key stages 3 and 4 – 6 pages containing the proposed Citizenship curriculum

Consultation on accountability measures

The DFE is also consulting on new accountability measures for secondary schools. This will lead to changes to school league tables. The proposed key progress measure of 8 qualifications (English, Mathematics, 3 Ebacc subjects plus 3 other high value subjects from the DFE approved list). If the DFE approved qualification list remains unchanged, this means GCSE Citizenship Studies can count towards this measure.

The proposals for revisions to school accountability are subject to consultation until 1 May 2013.