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      • Promoting citizenship and values education in primary schools facing challenging socio-economic circumstances: an exploratory pilot
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Beyond Sectarianism - new thinking for a new generation

Nations involved
Scotland
Northern Ireland
Project leads
Dr Margery McMahon, School of Education, University of Glasgow Lesley Atkins, Glasgow City Council & Shawlands Academy

Project timeline
1 June 2010 to 25 January 2011
This project allowed 13-15 year-old pupils from Glasgow and Derry to collaboratively explore the new thinking required for the respective communities to address issues of racism and sectarianism.  This would build on past learning about how both communities had worked to create more inclusive communities prepared to overcome division and build greater social cohesion. Download the report

Aims

  • To provide the participants with the opportunity to explore the past from the other’s perspective, using their shared and lived experiences
  • To construct meaning and understanding of the present, in ways that can shape their future
  • To develop a model for exploring cross community historical and cultural understandings through planned learning experiences, involving pupil and teacher exchanges and situated learning through field visits.

Actions

Thirteen 3rd year pupils from Thornhill College, an all girl Roman Catholic grammar school in Derry, and thirteen 2nd year pupils from Shawlands Academy, a multi-cultural and linguistically diverse school in Glasgow spent three days (two nights) in each other’s local environment.  This was preceded by teacher exchanges for the purpose of planning draft programmes, which they then shared with pupils. The programmes were constructed on models of situated learning, drawing on resources available in local communities.  Photos are featured on the Shawlands Academy website.

Outcomes

  • Pupil learning
    • Situated learning - the overall experience appeared to create a significant level of curiosity which generated questions that, in turn, resulted in learning
    • Pupils gained a deeper understanding of their own city's history, culture and context by comparing it with another
    • They were aware of their own learning - there was a clear desire to learn among students and they were happy when they were aware that learning had occurred
    • An awareness of differences in school cultures
    • The importance of visual learning – seeing
    • The importance of informal learning through social interaction
    • Overall, a desire to have their voices heard and wanting to be in control of their own learning experiences.
  • Outcomes in line with Modern Studies and the Curriculum for Excellence (Scotland)
  • Research strand
  • About
    • Strategy Group and Terms of Reference
    • Five Nations Network Management Team
    • Contact us
    • Five Nations Network Evaluation
    • Funding and support
  • Conferences
    • Edinburgh [2025] >
      • Guest Speakers and Session Resources 2025
    • London [2024] >
      • Guest Speakers and Session Resources 2024
    • Dublin [2023] >
      • Guest Speakers and Session Resources 2023
    • Cardiff [2022] >
      • Keynote and session resources 2022
    • Online [2021] >
      • Keynote and session resources 2021
    • Belfast [2020] >
      • Keynote and session resources
      • Photo Gallery
    • Glasgow [2019] >
      • Keynote and session resources 2019
    • London [2018] >
      • Keynote and session resources 2018
    • Dublin [2017] >
      • Workshop and seminar resources 2017
      • Guest and plenary speakers 2017
    • Cardiff [2015] >
      • Seminar resources 2015
      • Keynote speakers 2015
    • Belfast [2014] >
      • Keynote speakers 2014
      • Seminar resources 2014
      • Recommended readings 2014
    • Edinburgh [2013] >
      • Speakers and presentations
      • Workshop Resources
      • Small-Scale Research Initiative Marketplace
    • Reading [2012] >
      • Workshops >
        • Social media and citizenship teaching
        • Engaging young people with democracy and Parliaments
        • 'Comic life'- citizenship through digital story-telling
        • Harnessing digital technologies in citizenship teaching
        • Using Apple-specific technology successfully in teaching
      • Guest speakers
    • Previous conferences [2000-2011]
  • Publications
  • Funded Projects
    • FNDPs 2019-20
    • FNDPs 2017-18
    • FNDPs 2016-17
    • FNDPs 2015-16
    • Completed SSRIs >
      • Promoting Values and Citizenship through Human Rights Education
      • Enabling Student Voice in the Classroom
      • Campaign! Make an impact
      • Promoting citizenship and values education in primary schools facing challenging socio-economic circumstances: an exploratory pilot
      • Beyond Sectarianism - new thinking for a new generation
      • Meeting the cross curricular challenge
    • SSRI Awards >
      • 2014 Awards
      • 2013 Awards
      • 2012 Awards
      • 2011 Awards
      • 2010 Awards
  • Citizenship
    • England
    • Ireland
    • Northern Ireland
    • Scotland
    • Wales
  • News
    • Five Nations Network News
    • Five Nations Network Blogs