What is Public Legal Education?

Young people unknowingly interact with the law on a daily basis. They live in a world where there is less free face-to-face support and advice available and a wider range of online support which they must learn to effectively navigate.

Arguably, this means there is a greater need than ever before for them to leave school with the knowledge and skills required to be legally capable. This is why public legal education is so important. Its purposes and benefits include:

• Developing awareness, knowledge and understanding of rights and legal issues
• Giving young people the confidence and skills they need to deal with disputes later in life and gain access to justice
• Allowing young people to recognise when they may need support, what sort of advice is available, and how to go about getting it
• Helping citizens to better understand everyday life issues, making better decisions and anticipating and avoiding problems

 

Where does legal education fit in the curriculum?

PLE is embedded within the National Curriculum, where it appears as part of the statutory subject of citizenship. It also forms a key part of a school’s SMSC provision and the rule of law appears as one of the fundamental British values that all schools must promote.

See the sections below for guidance on how legal education fits into the curriculum. If you’d prefer, you can download the information below as a PDF.

Explore our range of teaching resources about the law or join our SmartLaw resource subscription.

 

Citizenship

Main aims

• Develop a sound knowledge and understanding of the rule of law and the justice system in our society and how laws are shaped and enforced.
• Are equipped with the skills to think critically and debate political questions.

Key stage 3

• 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.

Key stage 4

• 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.
• 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.

 

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RSE and Health Education

Families

• What marriage is, including their legal status e.g. that marriage carries legal rights and protections not available to couples who are cohabiting or who have married, for example, in an unregistered religious ceremony.
• The characteristics and legal status of other types of long-term relationships.

Respectful relationships including friendships

• That some types of behaviour within relationships are criminal, including violent behaviour and coercive control.
• The legal rights and responsibilities regarding equality (particularly with reference to the protected characteristics as defined in the Equality Act 2010) and that everyone is unique and equal

The law

• It is important for young people to know what the law says about sex, relationships and young people, as well as broader safeguarding issues.
• This includes a range of important facts and the rules regarding sharing personal information, pictures, videos and other material using technology.
• This will help young people to know what is right and wrong in law, but it can also provide a good foundation of knowledge for deeper discussion about all types of relationships.
• There are also many different legal provisions whose purpose is to protect young people and which ensure young people take responsibility for their actions. Pupils should be made aware of the relevant legal provisions when relevant topics are being taught

 

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SMSC

Social

Acceptance and engagement with the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs; they develop and demonstrate skills and attitudes that will allow them to participate fully in and contribute positively to life in modern Britain.

Moral 

Ability to recognise the difference between right and wrong and to readily apply this understanding in their own lives, recognise legal boundaries and, in so doing, respect the civil and criminal law of England.

Cultural

Knowledge of Britain’s democratic parliamentary system and its central role in shaping our history and values, and in continuing to develop Britain.

 

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Fundamental British values

Schools should promote the fundamental British values of:

• Democracy
• The rule of law
• Individual liberty
• Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

Students should develop the following as a result of schools promoting fundamental British values:

• An understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process.
• An appreciation that living under the rule of law protects individual citizens and is essential for their
  well-being and safety.
• An understanding that there is a separation of power between the executive and the judiciary, and that
  while some public bodies such as the police and the army can be held to account through Parliament,
  others such as the courts maintain independence.
• An understanding that the freedom to choose and hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law.
• An acceptance that other people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be
  accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour.
• An understanding of the importance of identifying and combating discrimination.

 

Where next?

• Explore our SmartLaw resources
• Take part in the Mock Trial Competitions
• Discover our Legal Experts in Schools programme
• Deliver The Big Legal Lesson

 

¹Developing capable citizens: the role of public legal education