The Government recognises the importance of improving political literacy and has ensured it is embedded within the National Curriculum as part of the citizenship programmes of study for Key Stages 3 and 4. One of the aims of citizenship education is to enable all pupils to develop a sound knowledge and understanding of how the United Kingdom is governed, its political system, and how citizens participate in its democratic systems of Government. We trust schools to use teaching materials that suit their pupils’ needs.

For 16 to 19 year olds who remain in education, they are offered study programmes which bring together qualifications with other activities to prepare them for adult life. Post-16 providers have the flexibility to tailor the content of study programmes to meet the needs of the student.

Where teachers bring political views to the attention of pupils, they are legally required to do so in an impartial manner, and offer a balanced presentation of opposing views. At the same time, we expect that the teaching of any issue in schools should be consistent with the principles of balance and objectivity.

The data required is published in the 16-18 School Performance Tables[1].

[1] Derived from School Performance Tables available at

https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/download-data?currentstep=datatypes®iontype=all&la=0&downloadYear=2015-2016&datatypes=ks5underlying

The Government notes the recommendations in The Institute for Digital Democracy’s report ‘Democracy 2:0: Hitting refresh on the Digital Democracy Commission’ and thanks them for their work in this very important area. The subject of citizenship has been part of the national curriculum for secondary maintained schools since 2002. One of the aims of citizenship education is to ensure that young people acquire a sound knowledge and understanding of how the United Kingdom is governed, its political system and how citizens participate actively in its democratic systems of government. New statutory programmes giving schools greater freedom over how to teach their Citizenship curriculum, including the aspects of political literacy, have already been established, taking effect in September 2014. In addition, The Government also has a range of free learning resources, such as Rock Enrol!, that aim to engage young people in the democratic system and can be used in an educational setting.

I have read the six recommendations in The Institute for Digital Democracy’s report ‘Democracy 2:0: Hitting refresh on the Digital Democracy Commission’. The Government is committed to building a modern democracy that works for everyone, and I am visiting all nations and areas of the UK to hear how the government can promote political participation and voter registration. This includes listening to ways in which we can contribute to citizenship teaching in schools and colleges.

With regards to e-voting, there are no plans to introduce this at this time.

The NCS Trust is being incorporated as a Royal Charter body. The Charter specifies that the Trust must have regard to 'encouraging participants to take an interest in debate on matters of local or national political interest, and promoting their understanding of how to participate in national and local elections.'

NCS is not primarily a citizenship education programme; it is about broader personal development and social mixing. Nonetheless government wants NCS to provide young people with the opportunity to develop a range of skills, including political literacy.

Later this year, Government plans to publish guidance on NCS for schools and colleges, which will include a link to citizenship education.

We do not collect data on the curriculum provision of individual schools. Schools have the freedom to teach any subject or topic within their wider school curriculum.

Maintained schools, including grammar schools and comprehensive schools operating in the maintained schools sector, are required to teach the National Curriculum which includes the subject of Citizenship for pupils in Key Stages 3 and 4.

The Citizenship programmes of study are designed to ensure pupils have the knowledge to enable them to play a full and active part in society, and are organised around core knowledge about democracy, government, and how laws are made and upheld. Citizenship education should equip pupils with the knowledge to explore political and social issues, to weigh evidence, debate and make reasoned arguments.