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citizenship challenges
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Publisher
by Chris Parr
dent participation levels across all curriculum and the statutory duty acknowledged the importance of David Kerr, one of the report’s
Ben Allen
schools have remained “relatively on schools to promote community good citizenship education. authors, added: “It has taken time
Editor
low”. cohesion. He said: “Some heads and depu- but there are clear signs in this
Pete Henshaw – 020 7501 6771
Teachers in England are becoming Other problems include stu- However, despite the challeng- ties have embraced citizenship, and report that citizenship has become
pete.henshaw@markallengroup.
more “specialist and experienced” dent awareness of citizenship, with es, the report said that teachers really pushed to make the subject accepted in schools, particularly for
com
at delivering citizenship, but are many confusing it with PSHE, and were becoming more “specialist central to the school ethos. There its forward-looking contribution in
Deputy editor finding it hard to cover all of the “considerable variation” between and experienced” in delivering citi- are very few schools I go into that engaging young people with current
David Taylor – 020 7501 6772 topics within the curriculum, an the style and effectiveness of teach- zenship education, and concluded say it is irrelevant, or that they want issues and preparing them for life in
david.taylor@markallengroup.com ongoing report into the subject has ing from school to school. that there were many examples of to get rid of it all together. But it modern society.”
Chief reporter found. The authors of Embedding good practice in building strong takes time to find the best way In its recommendations, the
Chris Parr – 020 7501 6750
The latest findings of a nine- Citizenship Education in Secondary relationships between schools and to manage the curriculum, and to report urges ministers to publish
Illustrator
year study into how citizenship Schools in England also expressed wider communities. teach the topics. strengthened guidance about the
Christos Mais
education is developing reveal that concern that Ofsted may not be It also said that although getting “There are challenges, but evi- new curriculum. It also calls for
although teachers and school lead- picking up on weak citizenship pro- students to participate was a prob- dence shows that where the subject improved training for citizenship
Editorial advisory panel
ers are supportive of its benefits, vision during inspections. lem, school policies and structures is taught well, it has a positive teachers, improved assessment,
Paul Ainsworth, Deputy
delivery of the subject remains The report was carried out for facilitating it had become much impact on the school as a whole. and wants better help for schools
headteacher, Belvoir High School,
“uneven, bumpy and fractured”. by the National Foundation for stronger in the last seven years. “Young people are interested in to imbed citizenship across their
Leicestershire. Mark Blois, Browne
There are a minority of schools Educational Research and high- Christopher Waller, profes- issues like terrorism, and the BNP whole community.
Jacobson. Hilary Moriarty,
where students are not receiv- lights a number of recent policy sional officer at the Association and the general election, but we Search for Embedding
National director, Boarding
ing their statutory entitlement to shifts that have impacted citizen- for Citizenship Teaching, told need to ensure that teachers are Citizenship Education in Secondary
Schools’ Association. Neill
citizenship education, the report ship education. These include the SecEd that more had to be done to well trained, and able to teach about Schools at www.nfer.ac.uk to read
Morton, Headteacher, Portora claims, while it also says that stu- introduction of the new national ensure that school leadership teams them with confidence.” the report in full.
Royal School, Enniskillen. Helen
Nurton, Assistant headteacher,
Guildford County School, Surrey. Jo
Smith, Deputy headteacher, Long
Field School, Melton Mowbray.
Mental health
New book highlights war
Tina Stockman, Teacher, Harlaw
Academy, Aberdeen. Ray Tarleton,
Headteacher, South Dartmoor
Community College, Devon. Dr
education vital
effort across the Empire
Bernard Trafford, Headteacher,
The Royal Grammar School,
Educating children about their more young people seemed to The Duke of Edinburgh has we need to teach accurately what
Newcastle upon Tyne. Simon
mental health is as important as be suffering from mental health joined war heroes from across happened in history.
Viccars, Headteacher, Leon School
“inoculating them against any issues. He said: “There are socio- the Commonwealth to mark the “The BNP, for example, do not
and Sports College, Milton Keynes.
other illness such as measles and logical factors. Divorce is more launch of a book that highlights the understand the history of Britain,
Alex Wood, Headteacher, Wester
cholera”, according to a leading prevalent. If you compare it to contribution made by soldiers from and it is vital that we shoot down
Hailes Education Centre, Edinburgh
mental health specialist. the 1960s, there are four times as across the British Empire during the Nick Griffin’s messages of hate.
Psychologist Dr Rick Norris, many divorces and that is on the Second World War. One way we can do this is by tell-
the co-founder of the counsel- back of fewer marriages. It can be Under One Flag, which was ing children what really happened
Sales director
ling organisation Mind Health stressful for children. unveiled at Canada House in during the war.”
Matt Govett – 020 7501 6735
Development (MHD), has “We also live in a more geo- London last Thursday (November One of the ex-service men pro-
Business development
launched a campaign calling for graphically mobile society – chil- 5), is aimed at 11 to 16-year-olds, filed in the book is Major Neville
manager
an overhaul of how the education dren are more likely to change and gives facts and figures about Hogan MBE, who was born in
Abdul Hayee – 020 7501 6776
system deals with young people’s schools, which means they change how the different countries of the Burma to an Irish father and
Classified sales mental health. peer groups.” former Empire contributed to the Burmese mother in 1923.
Rachel McElhinney – 020 7501 6728 Dr Norris told SecEd that Currently, Dr Norris is work- war effort, along with case studies In 1939, aged just 16, he joined
teachers lacked support in this ing with a primary care trust of service men and women. the army and subsequently took
Subscription manager area, and highlighted that with (PCT) in the Midlands to improve The author, Erica Myers-Davis, part in the Burmese campaigns of
Chris Hoskins
greater information on mental the mental wellbeing of children wants her book to help schools 1942 and 1944/45. He told SecEd:
Circulation director
health, they would be better quali- in the area. The PCT will offer across the UK to do more to high- “This book is aimed at people the
Sally Boettcher
fied to deal with the problem. educationalists coaching to help light the “forgotten heroes” of the same age as I was when I first
This, he said, would reap educa- children who are suffering from Second World War. joined up in August 1939.
tional benefits in schools. mental health issues and who Speaking to SecEd at the launch, “I hope that it will help young
Circulation department:
The campaign comes as fig- could benefit from improved self- she said: “It is vital that we reach people to understand how many
Tel: 01722 716997
ures show that one in four Britons esteem. young people, and make sure they different types of people fought for
Fax: 01722 716926
email: subscriptions@
are suffering from stress, anxiety Dr Norris added: “We need to know about the contribution made Britain, and the people featured in
markallengroup.com
or depression. It is believed the break the negative thinking cycle by so many different races to the the book will act as good role mod-
cost of dealing with depression is as early as possible to really make war effort. els for what can be achieved.”
UK annual rates:
£9 billion per year. a positive impact.” “School classrooms in this day The book is available now from Royal assent: Erica Myers-
Dr Norris told SecEd there For more, visit www.mind and age are a mix of races and back- Get Publishing priced at £14.99 and Davis, author of Under One
Personal £50
were a range of reasons why healthdevelopment.co.uk grounds, but even in a class made discounts are available for schools. Flag, discusses her book
Institutional (libraries,
up of all White English children, Visit www.get-publishing.com with the Duke of Edinburgh
companies etc) £110
Europe annual rates:
Personal £92
Institutional £165
Virtual Western Front inspires lesson ideas
Rest of world annual rates:
Personal £113
Institutional £209
From the War Poets to life on the teaching area, where they are asked
Western Front, the First World War to reflect on what they have seen
Printed by
forms a key part of many school and heard.
Pensord Press, Wales
lessons. Kate Lindsay, project manag-
Now an Oxford University team er, told us: “Virtual worlds create
Published by
has hit on a virtual approach to help opportunities to do things that are
bring the 1914 to 1918 war to life. impossible in real museums.
The university’s Learning “By simulating parts of the
Technologies Group and First Western Front, we can embed an
World War Poetry Digital Archive entire exhibition’s worth of content
St Jude’s Church, Dulwich Road
have used Second Life, the 3D vir- within the space. The result is an
Herne Hill, London SE24 0PB
tual world, to simulate areas of the immersive and personal experience.
www.markallengroup.com
Western Front. It’s not ‘real’, but it does offer pos-
Although there is an age limit sibilities for understanding a part of
of 18-plus for Second Life users, history that is now beyond human
secondary teachers are finding the memory.”
First World War site useful for les- The digital materials come from
MA Education Ltd is an independent
son ideas and ongoing CPD. the First World War Poetry Digital
publishing company also responsible
English lecturer Dr Stuart Lee, Horrors of war: A glimpse of the virtual representation of the First World War trenches Archive, which was launched ear-
for education titles Early Years
the director of the First World War lier this year.
Educator and 5to7 Educator.
Poetry Digital Archive, said the ing camp, dressing station, network with rats and littered with poppies, recalling their experiences of the The project itself has been fund-
© All rights reserved. No part of SecEd may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any
possibility of replicating the site on of trenches and No Man’s Land and as users move nearer to the First World War, watch original ed by the Joint Information Systems
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise without prior written permission of MA Education
Teen Grid (Second Life for 13 to – the area of ground between the front line the sound of shell blasts footage and see war diaries and Committee (JISC).
The publisher accepts no responsibility for any views or opinions
expressed in SecEd.
17-year-olds) is being considered. opposing sides. The terrain is water- and artillery fire grows louder. letters. Afterwards users are “tel- To find out more, go to www.
ISSN 1479-7704
Teachers can explore a train- logged, hard to navigate, over-run Visitors can listen to veterans eported” out of the trenches to a oucs.ox.ac.uk/ww1lit/secondlife
2 SecEd • November 12 2009
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