Citizenship
At Priory, our Citizenship Provision helps to provide pupils with knowledge, skills and understanding to prepare them to play a full and active part in society. Citizenship education fosters pupils’ keen awareness and understanding of democracy, government and how laws are made and upheld. We equip pupils with the skills and knowledge to explore political and social issues critically, to weigh evidence, debate and make reasoned arguments. It prepares pupils to take their place in society as responsible citizens, manage their money well and make sound financial decisions.
Curriculum Aims
The Citizenship curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils:
- acquire a sound knowledge and understanding of how the United Kingdom is governed, its political system and how citizens participate actively in its democratic systems of government
- develop a sound knowledge and understanding of the role of law and the justice system in our society and how laws are shaped and enforced
- develop an interest in, and commitment to, participation in volunteering as well as other forms of responsible activity, that they will take with them into adulthood
- are equipped with the skills to think critically and debate political questions, to enable them to manage their money on a day-to-day basis, and plan for future financial needs
Citizenship Delivery
Citizenship is delivered in Learning for Life sessions at the end of every day. They are a block of lessons which are in Half term 6 for Year 7 to 10 and Half term 3 for Year 11.
At Priory, we use Oak Academy resources as our source to ensure high quality content
The document below details all provision for pupils to learn and explore Citizenship characteristics and participate in activities.
Curriculum Content
At KS3 pupils learn about:
- the development of the political system of democratic government in the United Kingdom, including the roles of citizens, Parliament and the monarch
- the operation of Parliament, including voting and elections, and the role of political parties
- the precious liberties enjoyed by the citizens of the United Kingdom
- the nature of rules and laws and the justice system, including the role of the police and the operation of courts and tribunals
- the roles played by public institutions and voluntary groups in society, and the ways in which citizens work together to improve their communities, including opportunities to participate in school-based activities
- the functions and uses of money, the importance and practice of budgeting, and managing risk
At KS4 pupils learn about:
- parliamentary democracy and the key elements of the constitution of the United Kingdom, including the power of government, the role of citizens and Parliament in holding those in power to account, and the different roles of the executive, legislature and judiciary and a free press
- the different electoral systems used in and beyond the United Kingdom and actions citizens can take in democratic and electoral processes to influence decisions locally, nationally and beyond
- other systems and forms of government, both democratic and non-democratic, beyond the United Kingdom
- local, regional and international governance and the United Kingdom’s relations with the rest of Europe, the Commonwealth, the United Nations and the wider world
- human rights and international law
- the legal system in the UK, different sources of law and how the law helps society deal with complex problems
- diverse national, regional, religious and ethnic identities in the United Kingdom and the need for mutual respect and understanding
- the different ways in which a citizen can contribute to the improvement of their community, to include the opportunity to participate actively in community volunteering, as well as other forms of responsible activity
- income and expenditure, credit and debt, insurance, savings and pensions, financial products and services, and how public money is raised and spent
The curriculum provision at Priory is enhanced by;
- cross curriculum links when aspects are delivered in other subjects.
- assemblies
- guest speakers
- opportunities to engage in Citizenship activities
All of which are detailed in the document.
Citizenship Provision
At Penwortham Priory Academy we educate pupils about and give them opportunities to engage in acts of kindness and charity.
Our reasons for doing so are:
- Develops Empathy and Compassion: Learning about charity helps our pupils understand the challenges others face and fosters a sense of empathy and compassion. This can lead to more considerate and kind behaviour.
- Encourages Social Responsibility: It instills a sense of social responsibility, making pupils aware of their role in contributing to the well-being of their community and the world.
- Builds Character and Values: Engaging in charitable activities helps build important values such as generosity, humility, and gratitude. These values are crucial for personal development and character building.
- Promotes Civic Engagement: Teaching about charity encourages pupils to become active and engaged citizens who are willing to participate in community service and other civic activities.
- Enhances Teamwork and Collaboration: Many charitable activities require teamwork and collaboration, helping pupils develop these essential skills.
- Provides Real-World Learning: It offers practical experiences that complement academic learning, helping pupils apply their knowledge in real-world situations.
- Boosts Self-Esteem and Well-Being: Helping others can boost pupils' self-esteem and overall well-being, as they see the positive impact of their actions.
- In school we encourage pupils to make non-financial donations in the winter term when we have our whole school Culture Focus of Kindness. Our donations include:
- Donating food to the local food bank, which we also encourage prior to other significant school holidays.
- Donating items for the homeless and gifting these to the Salvation Army
- Donating small gifts in shoe boxes for local children in the run up to Christmas, via the food bank.
Fundraising is our main charitable focus.
Our main charity is Derian House Children's Hospice. We educate pupils regarding the work they do to support local families and end of life care and in response we implement a number of strategies to raise funds.
Pupils are also encouraged to create fundraising events for personal projects they are passionate about.
Below are the details of how our generous pupils and their families have supported other organisations.
2022-23
- Macmillan’s Coffee Morning £125.78
- LGBTQ+ bake sale £45.90 raised for LGBTQ Awareness groups
- Ukraine Appeal £248 - £90.93 of which was donated to the Red Cross. The rest was a food shop and donated to a Ukraine food bank.
- ‘The Space Centre’ bake sale £150.20
- Culture Day food sale donated £254.60 to Priory Legacy Fundraising
- The £1 coin fundraiser £127 to Priory Legacy Fundraising
- Summer Arts ticket sales £124 to Priory Legacy Fundraising
- Priory Legacy Fundraising total - £14,817.20 which is the running total from the last 2 years.
2023-24
- Christmas Jumper Day and House Colour Day combined £521.22 for St Catherines Hospice
- Comic Relief Bake Sale - £50.18
- Culture Day fundraising for Malawi FOMO - £450
- Priory Legacy Fundraising total - £15,395.88
Pupil Personal Fundraising Examples
- Walking 30 miles in 30 days in September 2023. £193.00 for Cancer Research UK.
- Sponsored walk in 2023 with Ribble Vets for Cancer Research, RABI and vet life. £80
- Over £3000 for Help for Heroes since Year 7
- Raised more than £50 for Mosque
2024-25
- McMillans Coffee Morning £191.60
- Black History Month Bake Sale £43.51 for Mind Matters
- Derian House Table Top Sale £461.60 for Derian House
- Christmas Jumper Day £207.71 for Derian House
- House Colours Day £367.08 for Derian House
- Pod Opening Bake Sale £73.00 for Derian House
In addition to our charity work and volunteering, pupils here at Penwortham Priory Academy are provided with additional opportunities to engage in citizenship activities. We believe this is crucial for a number of reasons:
- Promotes Civic Engagement: It helps pupils understand their roles and responsibilities as citizens, encouraging them to participate actively in their communities and democratic processes.
- Develops Critical Thinking: Citizenship education fosters critical thinking skills by encouraging pupils to analyse and discuss social, political, and economic issues.
- Builds Social Awareness: It raises awareness about social justice, human rights, and the importance of diversity and inclusion.
- Encourages Ethical Behaviour: Teaching citizenship helps pupils develop a strong moral compass, guiding them to make ethical decisions and act with integrity.
- Enhances Communication Skills: It provides opportunities for pupils to engage in discussions, debates, and collaborative projects, improving their communication and teamwork skills.
- Prepares for Global Citizenship: In an increasingly interconnected world, understanding global issues and cultures is essential. Citizenship education prepares pupils to be informed and responsible global citizens.
- Fosters Respect and Tolerance: It promotes respect for different perspectives and cultures, helping to build a more inclusive and harmonious society.
- Empowers Students: Citizenship education empowers pupils by giving them the knowledge and skills to advocate for themselves and others, and to effect positive change in their communities.
- Supports Personal Development: It contributes to the overall personal development of pupils, helping them to become well-rounded individuals with a strong sense of identity and purpose.
- Encourages Lifelong Learning: It instills a love for learning about societal issues and encourages pupils to stay informed and engaged throughout their lives.
Pupils are welcome at our school to initiate their own event and take responsibility for it.
Below are details of provision the school provides
Democracy
- Annual voting in the Young Parliament Elections
- Mimicking the General Election in school
- Voting in local young peoples' voice activities - New name for the Youth Zone
- Electing Form Representatives
- Year and School Council contribution
- Pupil voice activities regarding curriculum and other provision provided by school
- Debate Club and competitions
- Visit and Q and A with our local MP
Environment
- Battery collection
- Use of the recycling bins around school
- Use of classroom black box paper systems
- Table Top Sale - Item reuse
- Tree Planting in the community
- Community Garden work
- Litter picking in the community
Assisting others
- Peer Mentoring
- Young Sports Leaders
- First Aid Training
- Prefects
Inclusion
- Culture Week
- Black History Month
- LGBTQ+ fundraising and awareness
Community events
- School Play Matinee and Coffee Morning for older community members
- Choir singing at Christmas in the supermarket and rest homes
- Community Mural participation - Harris Museum Hoardings
- Attending and speaking at the Penwortham Remembrance Service
- School Plays and the Summer Arts Festival open to the community
- Penwortham Gala stall
- Penwortham Christmas Market stall
Responsibility
- Domestic Violence assembly - Whole school
- Lancashire Fire and Rescue - Fireworks, Open Water safety - Whole school
- Cycling Proficiency Yr 7
- Performance Workshops - Smashed Yr 7 and 8
- Police County Lines session - Year 8
- CELLS workshop - Year 9
- British Transport Police workshop - Select few - Careers
- Wasted Lives - Year 10
Related News
National youth parliament elections - our results
Here are the results from Penwortham Priory Academy.
Pupils vote in national Youth Parliament elections
Pupils have participated in the largest ballot for young people, the Lancashire Youth Council Ballot.