Invicta Grammar School in Maidstone

Citizenship has been on the taught curriculum at my school since 2000, currently for one hour each fortnight in KS3 and KS4 working towards GCSE short course qualification. In common with many schools, it also has had a long presence in cross-curricular and extra-curricular programmes. The taught element has concentrated on social and political rights and responsibilities, encouraging students to understand systems and to develop awareness of the views of others.

To those of us involved in delivering the course, this is one of the crucial skills to be developed. We have made use of a range of websites, worksheets, off the peg and in-house activities and resources which recognise the diversity of starting points among students and among staff.

The involvement of Citizenship PGCE students from Canterbury Christ Church University College has enabled us to develop materials, skills and activities to enhance everyone's experience of the course. This has also developed through cross-curricular developments and in a range of subjects where citizenship issues are actively promoted.

Having had a school council for over 20 years, and with a long-standing tradition of community involvement, active and practical elements of citizenship were already in place. Through fund-raising and volunteer involvement with a local women's refuge, national charities and a family centre in Bucharest, students at Invicta have continued to develop as active citizens, as have staff who have also been able to refer to a range of activities to emphasise to students that they can be empowered and can help empower others.

For us, the keys to successful introduction have been:

(a) a leadership group fully committed to the principle of citizenship education;

(b) able and innovative staff, from a number of subject areas, willing to work together and take risks;

(c) leadership by a colleague given time, responsibility and a reasonable budge;

(d) the chance to plan and to reflect;

(e) the enthusiasm of our students.

All of these helped to create an environment in which concepts and activities of citizenship can flourish.

Ralph Leighton