Education for Citizenship: The Contribution of Social, Moral and Cultural Education

Abstract

Education for citizenship will be a new subject for children in England and Wales from September 2000. It will be mandatory for all pupils in secondary schools from 2002 and recommended for pupils in primary schools. This curriculum will focus on social and moral education, which is well established in schools, and the newer aspects of community involvement and political literacy (QCA, 1998, 1999). The success of this innovation will depend on the extent to which schools are able to build on work currently undertaken in schools in social and moral education, whilst introducing the two new elements. We know little of what teachers think about these three aspects of education for citizenship, what parents want or indeed how children will respond. We also know little about the work that is currently done in schools in the name of social and moral education, the foundation of education for citizenship. This article sets out to review the various interpretations of education for citizenship, including that recommended by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, and to report on a small scale research project into teachers' current beliefs and practices in social and moral education. Discussion follows as to whether such practice is an adequate foundation for education for citizenship, and the implications for research and continuing professional development.