Unlike other compulsory subjects, schools do not have to give citizenship its own slot in the timetable. They can teach it alongside, or as part of, personal, social and health education or through other subjects.

By the end of key stage 4 pupils are expected to have a comprehensive knowledge of and understanding of the following areas: the rights, responsibilities and duties of citizens; the role of the voluntary sector; forms of government; and the legal and economic systems.

They should also demonstrate personal and group responsibility in their attitudes to themselves and others.

Pupils should also be able to obtain and use different sources of information, including the media, to form and express an opinion and evaluate the effectiveness of different ways of bringing about change at various levels of society.