Four Nations Going Their Own Ways? Citizenship Education in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Citizenship education at secondary school level across the UK is taught in different ways: as a statutory subject in England and Northern Ireland; as a non-statutory subject in Wales; as a cross-curricular theme in Scotland. The educational approach is didactic and subject-based in England whereas whole-school strategies and experiential learning have prevailed elsewhere. Citizenship education in Northern Ireland has stemmed from the need to establish a stable basis for peace. England, Wales and Scotland have considered it as a possible solution to the low participation of young people in politics but Wales and Scotland have also used CE to further their identities.