The introduction of citizenship education has failed to plug considerable gaps in pupils’ knowledge of politics and economics, research has found.

The Citizens in Transition report from the National Foundation for Educational Research followed 24,000 young people’s progress through secondary school to evaluate the impact of citizenship teaching. It also asked young people aged 18-25 how citizenship lessons had shaped their community involvement now they are adults, examining the differences between England, Scotland and Wales. The subject is only statutory in England.