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Should the UK Adopt Automatic Voter Registration?

Millions of people in the UK are either not registered to vote, or are registered incorrectly - with young people being the most under-represented group. Our programmes administrator Kieran Burch looks at whether automatic voter registration could help close the democratic gap.
Making Sense of SMSC

ONLINE TRAINING: We have launched a new short course to support educators to understand Spiritual Moral Social Cultural (SMSC) development and help embed SMSC across their teaching. Read more about this online training here....
Introduction to Social Action for Primary Teachers

ONLINE TRAINING: Thanks to a grant from the Pears #iwill Fund, primary school teachers can sign up for a free online training course on the importance of social action and how to introduce activity with your pupils. Find out more...
Social Action in Community Spaces

ONLINE TRAINING: This FREE one hour CPD certified online course is an introduction to the importance of supporting children and young people to take a lead in improving the physical landscape of where they live. Read more...

Golden recognition for preparing our students for the real world

Cheryl Goodchild is an Assistant Principal at a high performing secondary school in Hertfordshire. In this latest blog she shares her story of reapplying for the National SMSC Quality Mark award.
The Importance of SMSC Learning During COVID-19

With school closures, remote working and social distancing, COVID-19 has had a profound impact on our nations' young learners. Temptation maybe to stick to core academic subjects during home schooling, but it's a great opportunity for SMSC. Here's why!
The powerful impact of employee volunteering and how it helped to get me where I am today

Ross Britain shares his journey from inspired Edinburgh schoolboy to Corporate Responsibility professional at CMS. In his blog he highlights the importance of employee volunteer programmes to supplement traditional curriculum delivery.
Getting the most from online learning: 6 questions to ask yourself

Before booking yourself onto a training course, it's important you choose the appropriate training to invest in. Here are six questions to ask yourself to increase your chances of choosing wisely. Read more...
Coronavirus: 5 ways it’s changing Citizenship

Our CEO discusses the long-term implications of the pandemic for Citizenship - and why it's important this is addressed in schools when they return
7 Tips for Volunteering with Democracy in Schools

During my studies at the University of Essex, I enrolled on a student volunteer programme that allowed me to work with teenagers in schools. Six weeks later and Y9 students were expressing themselves politically in front of their peers. Here's my tips for success!
Live life in all its fullness

Gemma, an Assistant Head Teacher in Coventry, discusses how SMSC provision helps them fulfill the school's mission of preparing children for life. Find out how...
The UK Justice System Is At Risk

Does the current UK Justice system protect its citizens' access to justice? As a Australian citizen, interning at a youth participation charity I was keen to explore.
The SMSC Quality Mark 'verification plus' offer gives teachers confidence

As SMSC lead in a EYFS and KS1 school, we recognised the importance of preparing rounded individuals and believed our provision to be of a high standard. The Quality Mark gave us that external validation as well as valuable support. Read more...
Age Is No Limit To Action

14-year-old Scottish environmentalist, Holly Gillibrand, shares her climate activism journey, from striking outside her school in Fort William to campaigning at Westminster, alongside Greta Thunberg.

British values
Importance of citizenship education
7. The importance of citizenship education
Free SMSC Resource for Key Stage 2

Would you like a free lesson to help you develop KS2 children's SMSC learning? This trial pack of lessons from our Go-Givers website contains the lessons "Democracy" and "Protecting Local Habitats".
Go-Givers Free Trial Pack

Would you like a free trial pack of lessons to support pupils' SMSC learning? This trial pack of lessons from our Go-Givers website contains the lessons "Plastic Pollution" and "Taking Responsibility" for KS1 children and the lessons "Democracy" and "Protecting Local Habitats" for KS2 children.
Mock Trials

REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW OPEN! The Mock Trials are an effective and fun way of helping young people understand how the judicial system works. Learn how you can get involved...
Why teach citizenship?
Lowering the voting age to 16

Here, we give teachers a little support for debating the topic in class with students. Do young people of this age know enough about politics yet? And if they could vote, can they be trusted to do it sensibly?
Free SMSC Resources for Key Stage 1

Would you like some free lessons to help you develop KS1 children's SMSC learning? This trial pack of lessons from our Go-Givers website contains the lessons "Plastic Pollution" and "Taking Responsibility"
Introduction

We are an education charity that inspires young people to play an active role in society. Find out more...

I’ve just got my money back via a ‘Small Claims Court’. Would young people know they can do that?

Our CEO tells of his own recent experience of using the law to protect his rights, and explains why basic legal understanding is vitally important for all young people, if they're to be confident young citizens. Read more