Calendar > December 2001 >
Education for active and informed citizenship: Developing effective practice in schools

4-9 December 2001

Citizenship education is currently high on the educational and political agenda in the United Kingdom. Citizenship is being introduced as an explicit subject in the National Curriculum in schools in England from 2002, for the very first time. There is a major challenge to turn the policy vision into effective practice in schools and in the communities of which they are a part. The challenge is to turn policy into effective practice so as to ensure the entitlement of all pupils to citizenship as part of a broad and balanced National Curriculum. The conference will provide participants with a unique opportunity to experience some of the issues and debates surrounding citizenship education first hand.

The aims of the seminar are:

1. To explore the latest thinking on developing and supporting effective citizenship education in schools reflecting the interests of participants through shared enquiry with other European colleagues in the context of UK practice.
2. To clarify the concept of ‘active and informed citizenship’ and to explore the effect of competing approaches on curriculum, organisation and management of schools.
3. To identify principles of good practice, to share experiences across countries and to begin to translate the ideas into individual contexts.
4. To promote the development of networks during and after the course for support and sharing good practice.
5. To promote dialogue with teachers, other professionals and organisations supporting schools within Birmingham and beyond.

CONTENT AND PROCESS
1. The course will be organised through presentations, workshops, case studies, visits and small group discussions. It will:
2. Outline the changing agenda for citizenship education in schools.
3. Provide an opportunity to hear first-hand from policy advisors and national support organisations about current developments in this area.
4. Explore the impact and implications for schools of different initiatives in citizenship education.
5. Use group work to enable participants to set their own agendas for exploration within the framework of the course programme.
6. Utilise the multinational nature of the course group to compare practice and develop understanding.
7. Offer visits to different types of local schools and discussion of relevant issues with teachers and pupils in schools, and with representatives of the local education authority and citizenship organisations who support them.
8. Highlight good practice in terms of appropriate methodology and resources for citizenship education.

Level: professional

Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom

Participants: 35 headteachers, teacher trainers, inspectors, advisers, teachers in early years, primary and secondary phases, special schools, curriculum support teachers and other professionals involved in citizenship education with young people in the school and community context.

Tuition, fee, lodging: The costs of programme, board and lodging are covered by the Central Bureau. Travel expenses will be refunded by the Council of Europe after the course on receipt of a completed travel expenses claim form, together with necessary documentation and a report on the course. Deadline of application: 14 September 2001. Applications should be approved by the National Liaison Officer of the country of residence who will transmit them to the Council of Europe and to the National Liaison Officer of the host country.

Contact Information:
Elizabeth TAIT
European Educational Services
Central Bureau for International Education and Training
10 Spring Gardens
GB - London SW1A 2BN
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel: +44(0)20 7389 4639
Fax: +44 (0)20 7389 4426
E-mail: Elizabeth.Tait@britishcouncil.org