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      • Promoting citizenship and values education in primary schools facing challenging socio-economic circumstances: an exploratory pilot
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Citizenship Education in Northern Ireland

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The Northern Ireland curriculum is described as six Areas of Learning at key stages 1 and 2: 
  • Language and Literacy; Mathematics and numeracy; Personal Development and Mutual understanding; The Arts; The World Around Us; Physical Education; Religious Education
and nine Areas of Learning at key stages 3 and 4: 
  • English; Mathematics; Modern languages; The Arts; Environment and society; Science and technology; Learning for life and work; Physical education; Religious education.
These areas are comprised of subject strands. Each subject strand is defined as a minimum requirement and is structured to facilitate more collaborative learning. Although subject strands are organised within specified Areas of Learning this does not preclude connections being made with other Areas of Learning or subject strands. The statutory minimum requirements must be met by schools through their curriculum. These requirements are written slightly differently for each key stage however, there should be a progression between them.  There is non-statutory guidance for key stage 3 and 4, developed by CCEA.
How citizenship education is specified in the curriculum 
At key stage 1 and 2, there is an area of the curriculum called ‘Personal Development and Mutual Understanding’ – which incorporates some aspects of citizenship education. 
‘Personal Development and Mutual Understanding (PD&MU) focuses on encouraging each child to become personally, emotionally and socially effective, to lead healthy, safe and fulfilled lives and to become confident, independent and responsible citizens, making informed and responsible choices and decisions throughout their lives.’
At key stage 3 and 4, there is an area called ‘Learning for Life and Work’ and within that is Local and Global Citizenship which is statutory at both key stages.  
‘Learning for Life and Work (LLW) is central in helping young people develop the fundamental skills, knowledge, qualities and dispositions that are pre-requisites for life and work. This area of learning 

contains the contributory strands of: Employability, Home Economics, Local and Global Citizenship and Personal Development.’
There are statutory Statements of Requirement for all key stages that must be met:
  • KS1 and KS2 – http://www.nicurriculum.org.uk/key_stages_1_and_2/areas_of_learning/pdmu/
  • KS3 – These are written up slightly different for KS3 and KS4 – but there should be a conceptual progression. http://www.nicurriculum.org.uk/key_stage_3/areas_of_learning/learning_for_life_and_work/
  • KS4 - http://www.nicurriculum.org.uk/key_stage_4/areas_of_learning/learning_for_life_and_work/
A curriculum review has recently been announced and changes are expected in the coming years.
National standards or expectations of pupils 
There are no national standards in Northern Ireland. However the Department for Education policy ‘Every School a Good School’ http://www.deni.gov.uk/ sets out overarching indicators for success and there are a number of policies for School Improvement that also come under this.
The Inspectorate policy document ‘Together Towards Improvement’  provides indicators for schools. A new framework is in the process of being implemented: "Empowering Improvement"which places citizenship related issues (such as equality, diversity and inclusion, active citizenship and learner participation in decision-making at the centre of its standards 
Qualifications 
A GCSE in Learning for Life and Work, incorporates aspects of citizenship, personal development and employability. Other more vocational qualifications cognate with citizenship are also available and delivered in schools as part of the citizenship curriculum, such as Preparation for Adult Life, Open College Network Qualifications and Prince's Trust. A GCSE in Politics has also been introduced and aligns well with requirements for Local and Global Citizenship.

​

Useful links

Northern Ireland Curriculum

Click on Learning for Life and Work to access the Local and Global Citizenship strand, as well as Employability, Personal Development and Home Economics (the latter only at KS3); also both KS3 and 4 the guidance materials, statutory requirements and information on Thinking Skills

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  • 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