Ofsted highlights gaps in citizenship teaching

A report by Ofsted says that in some secondary schools, pupils have "important gaps" in their knowledge. However, inspectors say lessons have improved since they were made compulsory seven years ago.

Their report, based on 91 schools, says just over half were at least "good" on the subject, but only one was rated "outstanding" and 10 were "inadequate".In some of these cases, inspectors say, citizenship has been "misunderstood or ignored". The study adds that in schools where citizenship lessons were only "satisfactory", students were getting an uneven education. In some secondaries, pupils' knowledge was patchy, it says.

"Typically, students knew a good deal about some aspects of the curriculum (such as human rights), but had important gaps in their knowledge.

"The quality of teaching was also uneven and the curriculum only partly covered."

Timetable issue

Often citizenship shared a timetable slot with Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education, but the time allowed was "too little to do justice to either subject", inspectors say. Inspectors praised schools which gave pupils opportunities outside the classroom - for example through volunteering or being part of a school council.

Ofsted chief inspector Christine Gilbert, said: "Citizenship is becoming a well established part of the school curriculum and this report highlights the ways in which schools are successfully promoting social responsibility, community involvement and political understanding.

"It is important that the good practice featured in the report is replicated more widely."