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| Citizenship lessons 'inadequate' | Citizenship lessons 'inadequate' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| One in four secondary schools in England is failing to offer pupils adequate lessons in citizenship, the education watchdog has warned. | One in four secondary schools in England is failing to offer pupils adequate lessons in citizenship, the education watchdog has warned. |
| Most citizenship teachers were non-specialists working "far from their normal comfort zone", inspectors said. | Most citizenship teachers were non-specialists working "far from their normal comfort zone", inspectors said. |
| They said guidelines for schools must be less ambiguous. | They said guidelines for schools must be less ambiguous. |
| Citizenship became compulsory for pupils aged 11 to 16 in September 2002, but inspectors said only a minority of schools taught it "with enthusiasm". | Citizenship became compulsory for pupils aged 11 to 16 in September 2002, but inspectors said only a minority of schools taught it "with enthusiasm". |
| They had worked hard to make citizenship a key part of their curriculum. | They had worked hard to make citizenship a key part of their curriculum. |
| "Others, also a minority, have done very little," the report said. | "Others, also a minority, have done very little," the report said. |
| Citizenship is still seen as the poor relation of more established subjects Miriam Rosen Ofsted's director of education | Citizenship is still seen as the poor relation of more established subjects Miriam Rosen Ofsted's director of education |
| "In a small number of schools there is no will to change because of other priorities, resistance to the idea of citizenship education, or an expectation that it will go away." | "In a small number of schools there is no will to change because of other priorities, resistance to the idea of citizenship education, or an expectation that it will go away." |
| The report concluded that 25% of schools inspected in 2005/06 were offering "inadequate" citizenship classes. | The report concluded that 25% of schools inspected in 2005/06 were offering "inadequate" citizenship classes. |
| Inspectors identified widespread misunderstanding in schools over what was required and poor lessons were linked to a lack of commitment from senior managers. | Inspectors identified widespread misunderstanding in schools over what was required and poor lessons were linked to a lack of commitment from senior managers. |
| Improved teaching | Improved teaching |
| Ofsted said schools must develop specialist citizenship teaching, by training existing staff or by recruiting specialist staff. | Ofsted said schools must develop specialist citizenship teaching, by training existing staff or by recruiting specialist staff. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Citizenship should be about teaching the structure of modern British society Dave H, Cambridge Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Citizenship should be about teaching the structure of modern British society Dave H, Cambridge Send us your comments |
| The Department for Education and Skills was also urged to increase the number of places for initial teacher training in citizenship. | The Department for Education and Skills was also urged to increase the number of places for initial teacher training in citizenship. |
| And inspectors called on the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to offer a full GCSE course in citizenship, as well as A-level courses. | And inspectors called on the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to offer a full GCSE course in citizenship, as well as A-level courses. |
| Ofsted's director of education Miriam Rosen said: "Citizenship is still seen as the poor relation of more established subjects but it requires teachers to be highly skilled and able to deal with contentious and sometimes difficult issues. | Ofsted's director of education Miriam Rosen said: "Citizenship is still seen as the poor relation of more established subjects but it requires teachers to be highly skilled and able to deal with contentious and sometimes difficult issues. |
| "Urgent attention is needed to make sure it is a central part of the school curriculum and ethos." | "Urgent attention is needed to make sure it is a central part of the school curriculum and ethos." |
| 'Positive impact' | 'Positive impact' |
| A spokesman for the DfES said it was training 1,200 new citizenship teachers over the next two years. | A spokesman for the DfES said it was training 1,200 new citizenship teachers over the next two years. |
| THE CURRICULUM href="/1/hi/education/5388712.stm" class="">What the subject involves "Citizenship is still a relatively new subject which Ofsted says is improving - inspectors saw much good practice and we are confident it can be successful," he said. | |
| "Citizenship has had a positive impact on the curriculum in the majority of schools and we are confident it will continue to improve as it becomes more embedded." | "Citizenship has had a positive impact on the curriculum in the majority of schools and we are confident it will continue to improve as it becomes more embedded." |
| A spokesperson for the QCA said the organisation would be considering the recommendations made by inspectors. | A spokesperson for the QCA said the organisation would be considering the recommendations made by inspectors. |
| The aim of citizenship classes is to develop young people into "responsible" citizens, who understand their rights and responsibilities and can play an active part in society. | The aim of citizenship classes is to develop young people into "responsible" citizens, who understand their rights and responsibilities and can play an active part in society. |
| Sir Bernard Crick, one of the architects of citizenship in schools, said the subject should educate children in how to be politically literate using real issues. | Sir Bernard Crick, one of the architects of citizenship in schools, said the subject should educate children in how to be politically literate using real issues. |
| "Being taught to respect the law without learning how bad laws can be changed and better ones promoted tends to create apathetic subjects rather than active citizens," he said. | "Being taught to respect the law without learning how bad laws can be changed and better ones promoted tends to create apathetic subjects rather than active citizens," he said. |