An article examined conceptions of participative citizenship, democracy, and diversity, and how they related to the citizenship education policy-making process in England. Citizenship education should focus on the process of inclusive communication and collective problem-solving, rather than a privileging of a substantive `common good' or `shared values'.
Source: Dina Kiwan, 'Uneasy relationships?', Education, Citizenship and Social Justice, Volume 2 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Nov
The government announced (in the Queen's Speech) plans to publish a draft Citizenship and Immigration Bill. Eventual legislation would take forward recommendations from a review of citizenship (led by former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith). The review was seeking to: clarify the legal rights and responsibilities associated with British citizenship, in addition to those enjoyed under the Human Rights Act; consider the difference between the different categories of British nationality; examine the relationship between residence, citizenship, and British national status, and the incentives for long-term residents to became British citizens; and explore the role of citizens and residents in civic society, including voting, jury service, and other forms of civic participation.
Source: Her Majesty's Most Gracious Speech to Both Houses of Parliament, 6 November 2007, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Queens Speech | Downing Street press release | Guardian report | Telegraph report
Date: 2007-Nov
The headline findings were published from the 2007-08 Citizenship Survey, which examined the views of people in England and Wales on issues around community cohesion, discrimination, values, and civic engagement and interaction. 85 per cent of respondents felt that they belonged strongly to Britain, with Bangladeshis and those over 75 recording 91 per cent and 92 per cent respectively. The percentage of people who felt strongly that they belonged to their neighbourhood was 77 per cent, up from 71 per cent in 2003.
Source: Statistical press release 4 October 2007, Department for Communities and Local Government (020 7944 3000)
Links: DCLG press release
Date: 2007-Oct
A report examined the results of an initiative which aimed to provide children and young people with the opportunity to articulate their thoughts and feelings about the future of civil society, working with participatory arts projects.
Source: Jane Pitcher, Initiative to Engage Young People in Exploring the Future of Civil Society through the Arts, Carnegie UK Trust (01383 721445)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Oct
Two linked reports examined possible future threats to, or opportunities for, civil society, looking ahead to 2025.
Source: Inquiry into the Future of Civil Society in the UK and Ireland, The Shape of Civil Society to Come, Carnegie UK Trust (01383 721445) | Inquiry into the Future of Civil Society in the UK and Ireland, Scenarios for Civil Society, Carnegie UK Trust
Links: Report (1) | Report (2) | Guardian report
Date: 2007-Oct
A new book provided a theoretical perspective on community practice, setting out an analysis of power and empowerment and exploring new ways of understanding active citizenship.
Source: Hugh Butcher, Sarah Banks, Paul Henderson and Jim Robertson, Critical Community Practice, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-Sep
Researchers examined differences between ethnic groups in levels of civic participation, and in motivations and barriers affecting civic participation. Overall levels of participation in all activity types were largely similar across ethnic groups.
Source: Nahid Ahmad and Katherine Pinnock, Civic Participation: Potential differences between ethnic groups, Commission for Racial Equality (020 7939 0000) and Improvement and Development Agency
Links: Report | CRE press release
Date: 2007-Sep
A new book examined the relationship between social care, community, and citizenship. Chapters covered anti-social behaviour, domestic violence, community capacity to care, black and minority ethnic care, volunteering, befriending, and home care.
Source: Susan Balloch and Michael Hill (eds.), Care, Community and Citizenship: Research and practice in a changing policy context, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-Jul
A think-tank report (by two government ministers) set out proposals designed to develop a stronger sense of British and local citizenship. Immigrants would have to 'earn' British citizenship under a points-based system: credit would be given to migrants doing voluntary work, but lost for breaking the law. There would be a 'national day' to promote a stronger sense of British identity.
Source: Ruth Kelly MP and Liam Byrne MP, A Common Place, Fabian Society (020 7227 4900)
Links: Report | Summary | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2) | BBC report
Date: 2007-Jun
The government began consultation on proposals to simplify immigration and citizenship laws.
Source: Simplifying Immigration Law: An initial consultation, Border and Immigration Agency/Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Consultation document | Home Office press release | Speech | Refugee Council press release | BBC report
Date: 2007-Jun
A new book examined new ideas which had accompanied the revived interest in 'civil society' - such as 'active citizenship' and 'participation' - which had radically challenged the dominance of the state, the power of professionals, and the welfare system itself.
Source: Frederick Powell, The Politics of Civil Society: Neoliberalism or social left?, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-Jun
Researchers examined trends in citizenship education in secondary schools. They found that the potential links between citizenship education and wider policy initiatives were not exploited to the full.
Source: David Kerr et al., Vision Versus Pragmatism: Citizenship in the secondary school curriculum in England, Research Report 845, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Date: 2007-May
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on citizenship education. It said that citizenship education had a range of positive impacts, which might include improved educational attainment.
Source: Citizenship Education: Government Response to the Committee's Second Report of Session 2006?07, Second Special Report (Session 2006-07), HC 517, House of Commons Education and Skills Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response | MPs report
Date: 2007-May
An article said that less visible forms of citizenship education (such as attending to ethics and values across the curriculum, or the impact of assessment policies on school ethos) were receiving insufficient attention.
Source: Mark Pike, 'Values and visibility: the implementation and assessment of citizenship education in schools', Educational Review, Volume 59 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-May
An article examined the ways in which citizenship was learned and 'lived' by young people themselves.
Source: Tom Hall and Amanda Coffey, 'Learning selves and citizenship: gender and youth transitions', Journal of Social Policy, Volume 36 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Apr
The inspectorate for education and children's services said that in the previous five years the quality of personal, social and health education (PSHE) programmes in schools had improved steadily. But PSHE was taught by non-specialists in some schools, and too much of this teaching was unsatisfactory.
Source: Time for Change? Personal, social and health education, HMI 070049, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (07002 637833)
Links: Report | OFSTED press release | DEF press release | BHA press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2007-Apr
A new book examined teenagers' acts of and engagement with citizenship in their local communities, and the role of citizenship education in creating responsible citizens.
Source: Susie Weller, Teenagers' Citizenship: Experiences and education, Taylor and Francis (020 7583 9855)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-Apr
A report by a committee of MPs said that schools should have the opportunity to become specialists in citizenship, which would help raise the status of the subject across the sector. Every school should have a statutory duty to establish a student council, because of the key role they could play in citizenship education.
Source: Citizenship Education, Second Report (Session 2006-07), HC 147, House of Commons Education and Skills Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Citizenship Foundation press release | Institute of Education press release | NUT press release | ASCL press release | BHA press release | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2) | BBC report | Telegraph report
Date: 2007-Mar
An article said that there could not be a single 'national story' of Britain; nor could one set of 'British values' be imposed as a condition of citizenship. Instead, an integrated society could only be built out of universal values of human rights, justice, and democracy ? the very values the 'war on terror' tended to undermine.
Source: Arun Kundnani, 'Integrationism: the politics of anti-Muslim racism', Race and Class, Volume 48 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Mar
Date: 2007-Feb
A survey examined people's awareness, knowledge, and motivations towards citizen governance roles. ?Citizen governance? in itself was a term that was not clearly understood by the participants, nor was the concept fully understood. Governance roles were perceived to be undertaken by people who tended to be well educated, articulate, ?well to do?, and who had time on their hands.
Source: Douglas Dalziel, Emma Hewitt and Lucy Evans, Motivations and Barriers to Citizen Governance, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Jan
An independent review made a series of recommendations aimed at promoting diversity across the schools curriculum. It said that schools did not put enough emphasis on British identity and history. Secondary schools should teach cultural diversity and 'core British values' as part of the citizenship curriculum. A related research report containing a literature review was also published.
Source: Keith Ajegbo, Dina Kiwan and Seema Sharma, Diversity and Citizenship: Curriculum Review, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260) | Uvanney Maylor and Barbara Read, with Heather Mendick, Alistair Ross and Nicola Rollock, Diversity and Citizenship in the Curriculum: Research Review, Research Report 819, Department for Education and Skills
Links: Report | Research report | DfES press release | Citizenship Foundation press release | ASCL press release | PAT press release | ATL press release | LSN press release | Personnel Today report | Guardian report
Date: 2007-Jan