Ethics, Beliefs and Culture & Citizenship
Ethics, Beliefs and Culture & Citizenship
A successful Poly Citizenship student is compassionate and hardworking. They are interested in different ways that we can participate in society and politics, and they have a desire to improve our local communities through active engagement. They have a strong understanding of how our democracy and justice systems work, and want to investigate where power and influence really lies. To be really successful, they are also able to think deeply about issues of ethics and the questions facing societies today. We ask that our students come to lessons with an open mind and a willingness to contribute to lively discussions and debates.
Key stage 3
EBC Course overview
Key topics year 7
Students spend half a term focusing on both Citizenship and on Ethics, Beliefs and Culture (EBC).
- EBC Students look at Sikhism, Buddhism and Hinduism
- Citizenship students look at what Citizenship is, local government and human rights.
Key topics year 8
Students spend half a term focusing on both Citizenship and on Ethics, Beliefs and Culture (EBC).
- EBC students look at Christianity and Islam's attitudes towards suffering, wealth, injustice and war.
In Citizenship, students look at conflict, human rights and complete a philosophy unit.
Key stage 4
Edexcel GCSE Citizenship
Citizenship and teaches students about elections and voting systems, law and justice, local councils, democracy at work in the UK; Human rights on a local and national scale; and crime, amongst many other relevant topics which are all stimulating and empowering for young people. Students will look into taking part in a citizenship action, undertaking an in-depth investigation into a global issue and creating a plan to tackle it. Previous students have focused upon human rights abuses, FGM and child soldiers.
Assessment
There are two assessment stages: Two exams (worth 50% each) both 105 minutes in length (worth 100%).
support materials and useful links
GCSE BBC Bitesize
BBC News
Pixl
Students should be keeping up to date with the news and current affairs and should have a solid understanding of the world around them.
Department Info
Enrichment opportunities
Visits to House of Commons and Woolwich Crown Court.
Various visits from MPs, police officers, journalists etc.
Clubs and Interventions
Intervention takes place on a weekly lunchtime basis.
Future careers/uni courses.
Business, law (lawyer, solicitor, judge, barrister etc.), charity work, the Civil Service, the Diplomatic Service, education, police, journalism, media, politician, social worker and any job in which a knowledge of current affairs is of benefit. These subjects teach a broader understanding of how the society we live in works.
Social, Moral, Social, Cultural (SMSC) and British Values
Many lessons give students the opportunity to voice their opinion and therefore listen to the opinions and beliefs of others. Students are encouraged to express their opinions towards different topics and events and a calm, understanding and encouraging environment is created in all Citizenship lessons so that students can express their opinions freely to staff and their peers. Students are then encouraged to think upon their own beliefs and the ideas and values expressed and reflect upon them and how they influence our own actions and the actions of others around us.
Students will focus upon the law in the UK; understand the consequences of actions, both peaceful and non-peaceful; to be able to offer reasoned views and produce their own judgements. Students often look into legal cases and as a class debate upon the consequences and the future in which the British legal system should go. For example, we discuss the role of the prison service, should this be for rehabilitation, re-education or as a form of punishment.
A big element to the course is the opportunity to students to play an active part in making a difference to their school or their local community. In the past, this has involved students becoming involved with student council, local businesses, radio stations, meetings with the police force, and local councils. Students feel a real sense of achievement and love the involvement that they have and the changes that they can personally bring to their school and community.