GCSE Citizenship

Skills: You need to be analytical, good at decision making, but also have good listening and empathy skills.

Abilities: You will need good evaluation skills, you will have to be able to work as part of a team and be continuously respectful of the opinions and viewpoints of others. You will also need to be articulate and able to complete structured pieces of writing, as part of the exam is essay based.

Interests: Current affairs, having a passion to make a difference in your community, understanding politics and interest in knowing what your rights are. Caring about the community, equality and knowing the power of your own (and others) voice will also help.

Students will follow the Edexcel syllabus, which is a rigorous and challenging course divided into five themes:

Theme A: Living together in the UK

Communities, identity, human rights, discrimination, community cohesion, population, immigration, responsibilities, local council, trade unions.

Theme B: Democracy at Work

Voting systems, how laws are made, parliament, government, UK spending, how to increase voter engagement, the Monarch’s role in the UK today.

Theme C: How the Law works

Criminal vs. civil courts, youth courts, crime, perverting the course of justice, UK Justice System, sorting civil disputes, how crime can be reduced.

Theme D: Power and Influence

International organisation (WHO, NATO, UN), power of the media, propaganda, should there be free press, taking democratic action (petitions, strikes, protests).

Theme E: Taking Citizenship Action

Students will apply their Citizenship skills to try and make a difference or create a change within their community – you can choose to do this on whichever theme you like

There are two exams at the end of the course:

Paper 1: 1h 45m, 50% 

Examining Themes A-C

Paper 2: 1h 45m, 50% 

Examining Themes D-E PLUS one question linking to content in one of Themes A-C