2005 Education for Citizenship School Co-ordinators’ Conferences
From January to March 2005, a series of conferences was held for people responsible for education for citizenship in primary, secondary and special schools. Participants were nominated by local authorities.
The day was made up of speaker sessions and workshops, which are listed here. Where possible we have attached the PowerPoint presentations from each session.
Speakers highlighted key issues in the implementation of the national framework for education for citizenship. A series of workshops offered opportunities to share local good practice and find out more about some national initiatives.
Conferences took place in the following locations:
- 13 January 2005, Edinburgh Training Centre
- 27 January 2005, Moat House Hotel, Glasgow
- 9 February 2005, Erskine Bridge Hotel, Renfrewshire
- 25 February 2005, Royal George Hotel, Perth
- 4 March 2005, Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre
| Conference Programme | ||
|---|---|---|
| 09.30 | Registration and Coffee | |
| 10.00 | Welcome | |
| 10.10 | Education for Citizenship in Scotland
| |
| 10.35 | Education for Citizenship in Scotland: the HMIE Perspective
HMI Lachlan MacCallum (Edinburgh and Aberdeen) HMI Jim Bruce (Glasgow and Renfrewshire)  PowerPoint file: HMIE slides (220 KB)Taking Part: a Personal Reflection by a Very Former Teacher of Modern Studies Gordon Jeyes, Director of Children’s Services, Stirling Council (Perth) PowerPoint file: Gordon Jeyes slides (400 KB) | |
| 11.00 | Coffee | |
| 11.30 | Workshop 1 | |
| 12.30 | Lunch | |
| 13.30 | Workshop 2 | |
| 14.30 | Discussion Group | |
Workshop Programme
Local
Co-ordinating Education for Citizenship (Edinburgh and Aberdeen)
Ollie Bray, PT Values and Citizenship, Knox Academy
Ollie Bray spoke about some of the opportunities and challenges involved in co-ordinating education for citizenship in a secondary school. He described a range of developments at Knox Academy, including the school’s involvement in East Lothian’s new volunteering strategy.
PowerPoint file: Ollie Bray slides (2.0 MB)
Philosophy for Children
Morag Macinnes, Senior Teacher, Kirkcaldy West Primary School (Edinburgh)
Philosophy has been described as one of the most radical forms of citizenship, where children work collaboratively in a quest to make sense of chosen issues. What transpires is a voyage of discovery, which has relevance to them and their lives and, quite often, wider, global implications.
Planning for Education for Citizenship
Sheila Taylor, Headteacher, Annette Street Primary School, Glasgow (Glasgow)
The workshop addressed issues around planning for education for citizenship within a primary school. Sheila Taylor described her school’s threefold approach to planning for citizenship. It began in 2001-2002 during the consultation period for education for citizenship in Scotland. The approach focuses on:
(a) School Ethos - the development of a Statement of Shared Values
(b) Curriculum - planning for the integration of citizenship opportunities
(c) Democracy - creation of a democratic school where pupils experience democracy in action.
Word file: Planning for Education for Citizenship (44 KB)
PowerPoint file: Planning for Education for Citizenship (60 KB)
A Values-based Approach to Education for Citizenship
Patricia Lennon, DHT, Notre Dame High School, Glasgow (Glasgow)
A values-based approach enabling young people to realise their potential, become confident learners and effective citizens preparing for their adult future. The workshop explored how young people are given opportunities to develop this potential throughout their school experience with a particular focus on 'capability for thoughtful and responsible participation' (A Curriculum for Excellence) through a programme of volunteering and citizenship in S6.
Developing Education for Citizenship within an Integrated PSE Programme
Ken Ross, DHT, St Ninian’s High School, East Renfrewshire (Renfrewshire)
Discussion centres on the provision of education for citizenship through the development of the PSE programme in school. The workshop looked at the dynamic nature of citizenship and how best to enable developments, such as enterprise education, to be included in the programme.
Citizenship in Action: Policy and Practice in an East Renfrewshire Primary School
Karen Wynne, PT, St Joseph’s Primary School, East Renfrewshire (Renfrewshire)
Karen Wynne reflected on the development of education for citizenship in her school, including use made of resources such as Citizenship: the Challenge and Glasgow City Council’s Citizenship and the Law.
Thinking Through Philosophy (Perth)
Paul Cleghorn, Headteacher, Sunnyside Primary School, and Dorothy Cleghorn, Educational Development Officer, both Clackmannanshire Council
The Thinking Through Philosophy programme developed in Clackmannanshire has resulted in measurable improvements in both cognitive and emotional development. In this workshop the author, along with the Educational Development Officer supporting the programme, gave the background and context of the concept of philosophical enquiry. They showed how this can be a powerful vehicle to develop citizenship. Practical strategies are explored and some resources are available.
Developments at Balfron High School (Perth)
Mrs Ruth Wood, Principal Teacher, Balfron High School, Stirling
Balfron High School is successfully developing a range of approaches to citizenship including a peer-led project in S5 and S6. The workshop presented the various initiatives which are taking place in the school and gave an opportunity to discuss the relative merits of these approaches.
'A Sense of Community' - A Class Project Based on an Original Work by TAG Theatre Company (Aberdeen)
Steve Glennie, Senior Teacher, Kingswells Primary School, Aberdeen
This is an interactive workshop led by P6 and P7 pupils from Kingswells Primary School. The workshop is based on the creation of a fictional community which assists learning about decision making, the children’s own community and the characteristics of an effective functioning community.
National
National Priorities
Members of the National Priorities Team at LT Scotland
This workshop focused on opportunities for reporting education for citizenship activities within the National Priorities framework. It focused particularly on the new National Priority 4 Performance Measure 4.2D which asks for specific information on education for citizenship.
PowerPoint file: Citizenship - A National Priority (1.0 MB)
Enterprising Global Citizens
Bruce Wilkinson, Education Officer, and Linsey Crooks, Education Support Service Volunteer, both Unicef
Bruce Wilkinson spoke about his innovative CPD course, Enterprising Global Citizens, which successfully brings together the global citizenship and enterprise agendas. Bruce demonstrated some of the methods and activities used in the course, and informed participants of wider Unicef initiatives in the field of global citizenship.
Eco Schools
Kate Campbell, Manager, Eco Schools Scotland
The workshop provided an introduction to the Eco Schools programme here in Scotland. This included background information about the initiative, how the programme works in schools and a look at how it provides a useful framework covering issues such as citizenship, PSE, health, and international and sustainable development education. Visit the Eco Schools Scotland website for more information.
Powerpoint file: Eco Schools workshop presentation (352 KB)
MSPs in Schools
Jenni Campbell, Manager, Scottish Parliament Outreach Services, and Greg Sanderson, Citizenship Co-ordinator, Hansard Society Scotland
An introduction to a new project currently being piloted in eight schools across Scotland. The project builds on the Hansard Society MPs and MEPs in Schools and is supported by Scottish Parliament, Learning and Teaching Scotland, the Electoral Commission and SEED. The project is rooted firmly in education for citizenship, and this was an opportunity to find out more, and discuss the resources being developed prior to its rollout to all schools in September 2005.
Mark Merrell, Andrea Priestley, Sheena MacKay and Linda Bowie, Save the Children Scotland
Two Glasgow secondary schools have been working in partnership with Save the Children to pilot Youth Scotland’s Dynamic Youth Award scheme. This was developed originally for the youth work sector and has been adapted to suit the school curriculum. The peer-led, peer-assessed award gives students recognition for their participation in school and community life. Students work collaboratively to identify issues of interest and concern that have an impact on their local community. Vandalism, alcohol, racism and prejudice are among the issues addressed so far. This presentation set out the evaluation of the first year of the project and outlined possible future directions for the Award in the formal setting.
Education for Citizenship Website
Content Editor, LT Scotland
A hands-on, practical workshop about finding useful citizenship resources online, in particular from Learning and Teaching Scotland’s Education for Citizenship website – www.LTScotland.org.uk/citizenship. The website had a quick revamp in 2004 and there are many plans and ideas to develop it. This was an opportunity for participants to tell LT Scotland what they need.