Kingswell Primary School: citizenship and community

At Kingswell Primary School on the outskirts of Aberdeen, a strong citizenship thread runs through both environmental studies and personal and social education programmes from P1 to P7.

The programmes draw on a range of published, school and community-based resources to give children a rich introduction to contemporary issues as well as their own rights and responsibilities as citizens. The school's programme understands citizenship in terms of membership of a community, community awareness and the development of community concern. To that end, pupils are supported in both learning about community issues and in sharing experiences and activities with the wider community.

The community emphasis in curriculum content is reflected in the methods used to deliver it. There is a strong emphasis on enquiry methods, discussion, circle time, role play and paired reading and writing. These support the open, participatory ethos advocated in the 'Education for Citizenship in Scotland' framework paper.