Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what practical steps they are taking to ensure that citizenship education in secondary schools is treated on a par with other subjects in the national curriculum.

Citizenship has a strong position in secondary schools, where it is part of the national curriculum in both key stages 3 and 4. It is one of only six compulsory subjects to be included in the key stage 4 curriculum. Citizenship education can also support schools to deliver their duties regarding the spiritual, moral, social and culture development of pupils, and promoting fundamental British values.

The recent report published by the Lords Select Committee on Citizenship and Civic Engagement, ‘The Ties that Bind: Civic Engagement in the 21^st Century’ made a number of recommendations regarding the quality and status of citizenship education in schools. We are currently considering these recommendations and will respond fully in due course.