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Blackfen School for Girls

Blackfen School for Girls

Raising aspirations - releasing potential

Citizenship

Welcome to the Citizenship Department

 

Year 10 and Year 11

The new Edexcel GCSE Citizenship (grades 9 – 1) is a full qualification and is part of the English Baccalaureate. Pupils develop and apply their understanding of key Citizenship concepts (justice, democracy, rights and responsibilities, identities and diversity), use an enquiring, critical approach to distinguish facts, opinion and bias, build arguments and make informed judgements. The new syllabus reflects current issues, questions and debates: students develop knowledge and understanding of the role of citizenship in relation to current issues that impact on modern society, engaging them with what it means to be an active citizen and preparing them for their next steps in today’s global world.

Our Results:

Since introducing the exam in 2012 our results have been amongst the best in the country, averaging 60-90% grades 9 – 5 (A*-C) at GCSE. We have also been credited as one of the leading Citizenship departments in the country. 

As a result of our grades, we have been regularly approached by University College London, Middlesex University and the National Portrait Gallery to collaborate on national teaching projects.  These opportunities enable our pupils to access high quality learning resources and act as Citizenship Pioneers.

http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/citizenship-studies-2016.html

We always recommend to parents that pupils purchase the following revision book for the course:

Revise Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Citizenship Studies Revision Guide & Workbook – Paperback – 30 May 2019 by Roffe, G.

Content and assessment overview

Paper 1 (*Paper code: 1CS0/01)
Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes
50% of the qualification
80 marks

 

 

Theme A: Living together in the UK

Key questions explored:

●How have communities developed in the UK?

●What is identity?

●What are democratic values, and where do they come from?

●How does local democracy work?

 

Theme B: Democracy at work in the UK

Key questions explored:

● Who runs the country?

● How does Parliament work?

● How is power shared between Westminster and the devolved administrations?

● How does the government manage public money?

 

Theme C: Law and justice

Key questions explored:

● What is the law for and how does it affect us?

● How does the justice system work?

● Is crime increasing in society?

 

Theme D: Power and influence

Key questions explored:

● What power and influence can citizens have?

● What role and influence should the media have?

● Does the UK have power and influence in the wider world?

 

 

Paper 2 (*Paper code: 1CS0/02)
Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes
50% of the qualification
80 marks

 

 

Assessment overview
Section A

Students must carry out an in-depth, critical investigation leading to citizenship action

Theme E: Taking citizenship action (Coursework)

Extended-response questions related to two or more of specification Themes A–C.

Questions relate to the students’ own citizenship action, as specified in specification Theme E: Taking citizenship action.

Your daughter will devise, plan and carry out a Citizenship campaign aimed at delivering a benefit or change for a particular community or wider society. Taking citizenship action in a real out-of-classroom context allows students to apply citizenship knowledge, understanding and skills, and to
gain different citizenship insights and appreciate different perspectives on how we live
together and make decisions in society.

 

Section B
Questions require students to comment on others’ actions and relate to specification Theme D: Power and influence.


Section C
Questions are focused on specification Theme D: Power and influence. One question will also link to content in one of Themes A–C.

This GCSE may be of interest to those studying History (birth of modern day, the monarchy and international conflict) Economics & Business (the economy, the EU and local government) and Geography (climate change, international relations).  In year 12 many Citizenship pupils go on to study Politics, Economics, Sociology, Law and History.

The exam board we use is Edexcel.

http://www.edexcel.com/quals/gcse/gcse09/citizenship-studies/Pages/default.aspx

Blackfen School for Girls Citizenship Fair film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS5s6RlEKm8

 

Citizenship Trips:

In the past we have taken students on an annual visit to India to work with a partner school putting the concept of global citizenship into context. Other trips include, visits to the UK Supreme Court, Parliament and New York to visit the United Nations Headquarters, Ground Zero and various other significant and historical sites to build students’ cultural capital.