Bryden Joy
@joyofteaching.bsky.social
🇦🇺 in 🇬🇧 • Senior Lead Practitioner for Personal Development • Advisor & Ambassador for Association for Citizenship Teaching • GCSE Citizenship Teacher of the Year 2022 • Tintin & Tim Hortons geek
It's also a whole other subject to PSHE, but they're often taught together and conflated in terms of content, with many teachers not knowing the difference.
October 7, 2025 at 8:11 PM
It's also a whole other subject to PSHE, but they're often taught together and conflated in terms of content, with many teachers not knowing the difference.
Academies don't have to teach the National Curriculum, so Citizenship often gets ignored - and even in maintained schools, too. There's also a GCSE, which goes into more detail about levels of government.
October 7, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Academies don't have to teach the National Curriculum, so Citizenship often gets ignored - and even in maintained schools, too. There's also a GCSE, which goes into more detail about levels of government.
This is the content that many schools do not currently teach (in depth, or even at all!) because academies are exempt for delivering the NC, and because of the lack of accountability out upon them. So many people don't even know Citizenship exists, nor that there is a GCSE!
September 19, 2025 at 4:59 AM
This is the content that many schools do not currently teach (in depth, or even at all!) because academies are exempt for delivering the NC, and because of the lack of accountability out upon them. So many people don't even know Citizenship exists, nor that there is a GCSE!
@nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social PSHE is vitally important, but some of the content you referred to in your speech actually sits within Citizenship, a National Curriculum subject for more than 20 years. Please draw attention to the work of @acitizenshipt.bsky.social and prevent further conflation.
September 19, 2025 at 4:56 AM
@nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social PSHE is vitally important, but some of the content you referred to in your speech actually sits within Citizenship, a National Curriculum subject for more than 20 years. Please draw attention to the work of @acitizenshipt.bsky.social and prevent further conflation.
David - www.gov.uk/government/p...
It's now 116 standards across KS3/4, up from 67 before.
I'm hoping that more schools will dedicate time to PSHE (and Citizenship), but we both know the difficulties with that, and how cross-curricular approaches can often turn out.
It's now 116 standards across KS3/4, up from 67 before.
I'm hoping that more schools will dedicate time to PSHE (and Citizenship), but we both know the difficulties with that, and how cross-curricular approaches can often turn out.
Relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education
Statutory guidance on relationships education, relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education.
www.gov.uk
August 27, 2025 at 2:50 PM
David - www.gov.uk/government/p...
It's now 116 standards across KS3/4, up from 67 before.
I'm hoping that more schools will dedicate time to PSHE (and Citizenship), but we both know the difficulties with that, and how cross-curricular approaches can often turn out.
It's now 116 standards across KS3/4, up from 67 before.
I'm hoping that more schools will dedicate time to PSHE (and Citizenship), but we both know the difficulties with that, and how cross-curricular approaches can often turn out.
There's also a bill in the Lords, the Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which will make NC compulsory in all state schools, including academies, which would also mean provision would be better across the board.
August 26, 2025 at 3:51 PM
There's also a bill in the Lords, the Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which will make NC compulsory in all state schools, including academies, which would also mean provision would be better across the board.
Barely is probably an exaggeration, but I think it's fair to say that it's inconsistent in provision. Claiming it's being added because of votes at 16 is definitely wrong. Curriculum review will hopefully suggest updating the content, and say primary provision should also be compulsory.
August 26, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Barely is probably an exaggeration, but I think it's fair to say that it's inconsistent in provision. Claiming it's being added because of votes at 16 is definitely wrong. Curriculum review will hopefully suggest updating the content, and say primary provision should also be compulsory.
He does - he attended the subject association conference in the summer, I had a chat with him there.
My reading of the article is that he is talking about forthcoming resources from the EC due to votes at 16, and the reporter has glossed over specific references, bar one minor mention.
My reading of the article is that he is talking about forthcoming resources from the EC due to votes at 16, and the reporter has glossed over specific references, bar one minor mention.
August 26, 2025 at 2:48 PM
He does - he attended the subject association conference in the summer, I had a chat with him there.
My reading of the article is that he is talking about forthcoming resources from the EC due to votes at 16, and the reporter has glossed over specific references, bar one minor mention.
My reading of the article is that he is talking about forthcoming resources from the EC due to votes at 16, and the reporter has glossed over specific references, bar one minor mention.
I'm hopeful that the CAR will reinforce the position of Cz, which has been seemingly sidelined for the past 15 years.
I totally agree that few do GCSE, but a lot more should be doing core Cz and don't get the full NC provision. But the subject does exist, which the article skims over.
I totally agree that few do GCSE, but a lot more should be doing core Cz and don't get the full NC provision. But the subject does exist, which the article skims over.
August 26, 2025 at 2:41 PM
I'm hopeful that the CAR will reinforce the position of Cz, which has been seemingly sidelined for the past 15 years.
I totally agree that few do GCSE, but a lot more should be doing core Cz and don't get the full NC provision. But the subject does exist, which the article skims over.
I totally agree that few do GCSE, but a lot more should be doing core Cz and don't get the full NC provision. But the subject does exist, which the article skims over.
What proportion of teachers do you think recognise that Citizenship is part of the NC, as a subject wholly separate from PSHE? The data doesn't necessarily distinguish between quality of existing curriculum and awareness of what is currently being taught (or meant to be taught!)
August 26, 2025 at 2:39 PM
What proportion of teachers do you think recognise that Citizenship is part of the NC, as a subject wholly separate from PSHE? The data doesn't necessarily distinguish between quality of existing curriculum and awareness of what is currently being taught (or meant to be taught!)
For clarity, that's the National Curriculum for Citizenship.
The GCSE is optional, roughly 20k pupils take it per year. It used to be higher when short courses a thing, before the reforms in c.2015
The GCSE is optional, roughly 20k pupils take it per year. It used to be higher when short courses a thing, before the reforms in c.2015
August 26, 2025 at 2:33 PM
For clarity, that's the National Curriculum for Citizenship.
The GCSE is optional, roughly 20k pupils take it per year. It used to be higher when short courses a thing, before the reforms in c.2015
The GCSE is optional, roughly 20k pupils take it per year. It used to be higher when short courses a thing, before the reforms in c.2015
Academies don't have to do it, maintained secondaries do have to do it - whether it's actually done or not is debatable, often it's a few tokenistic lessons which doesn't cover the expected depth, and is conflated as part of the Wider World section of PSHE.
Primary programme of study is optional.
Primary programme of study is optional.
August 26, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Academies don't have to do it, maintained secondaries do have to do it - whether it's actually done or not is debatable, often it's a few tokenistic lessons which doesn't cover the expected depth, and is conflated as part of the Wider World section of PSHE.
Primary programme of study is optional.
Primary programme of study is optional.
It's because there's a whole subject called Citizenship which encompasses politics, the legal system, human rights, the media, the economy and more.
The two subjects are often conflated, but they're different. Citizenship has been on the National Curriculum for over 20 years.
The two subjects are often conflated, but they're different. Citizenship has been on the National Curriculum for over 20 years.
August 26, 2025 at 12:45 PM
It's because there's a whole subject called Citizenship which encompasses politics, the legal system, human rights, the media, the economy and more.
The two subjects are often conflated, but they're different. Citizenship has been on the National Curriculum for over 20 years.
The two subjects are often conflated, but they're different. Citizenship has been on the National Curriculum for over 20 years.
I genuinely cannot understand how or why an existing NC subject would be given to Maths to teach - at most, the connections are related to proportional representation and the economy.
Citizenship exists already as a subject (distinct from PSHE), on the NC for more than 20 years. It also has a GCSE.
Citizenship exists already as a subject (distinct from PSHE), on the NC for more than 20 years. It also has a GCSE.
August 26, 2025 at 12:11 PM
I genuinely cannot understand how or why an existing NC subject would be given to Maths to teach - at most, the connections are related to proportional representation and the economy.
Citizenship exists already as a subject (distinct from PSHE), on the NC for more than 20 years. It also has a GCSE.
Citizenship exists already as a subject (distinct from PSHE), on the NC for more than 20 years. It also has a GCSE.
I'd support that - though with only two providers offering a PGCE in Citizenship, it'll be hard to get enough specialists to teach it all!
I'm hopeful that the curriculum review will lead to increased opportunities for teachers to enhance their Citizenship knowledge and pedagogy.
I'm hopeful that the curriculum review will lead to increased opportunities for teachers to enhance their Citizenship knowledge and pedagogy.
August 26, 2025 at 12:07 PM
I'd support that - though with only two providers offering a PGCE in Citizenship, it'll be hard to get enough specialists to teach it all!
I'm hopeful that the curriculum review will lead to increased opportunities for teachers to enhance their Citizenship knowledge and pedagogy.
I'm hopeful that the curriculum review will lead to increased opportunities for teachers to enhance their Citizenship knowledge and pedagogy.
Financial and economic education is compulsory as part of Maths and Citizenship, though the National Curriculum is only compulsory for maintained schools.
Content within PSHE is non-statutory, and has somewhat been squeezed by the statutory RSHE element, which does not include finance.
Content within PSHE is non-statutory, and has somewhat been squeezed by the statutory RSHE element, which does not include finance.
August 26, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Financial and economic education is compulsory as part of Maths and Citizenship, though the National Curriculum is only compulsory for maintained schools.
Content within PSHE is non-statutory, and has somewhat been squeezed by the statutory RSHE element, which does not include finance.
Content within PSHE is non-statutory, and has somewhat been squeezed by the statutory RSHE element, which does not include finance.
It's actually part of the Citizenship National Curriculum (different to PSHE, despite them often being conflated and taught together), and there is a GCSE in Citizenship Studies.
Maintained schools are obligated to cover the NC & therefore should already be doing this; academies have more freedoms.
Maintained schools are obligated to cover the NC & therefore should already be doing this; academies have more freedoms.
August 26, 2025 at 12:02 PM
It's actually part of the Citizenship National Curriculum (different to PSHE, despite them often being conflated and taught together), and there is a GCSE in Citizenship Studies.
Maintained schools are obligated to cover the NC & therefore should already be doing this; academies have more freedoms.
Maintained schools are obligated to cover the NC & therefore should already be doing this; academies have more freedoms.
Australia has a similar concept; you could compare the lists.
You can also use case studies as stimuli and ask pupils to evaluate the extent to which BV are being upheld/adhered to, or discuss whether its contradictory for schools to be expected to promote BV despite one being individual liberty.
You can also use case studies as stimuli and ask pupils to evaluate the extent to which BV are being upheld/adhered to, or discuss whether its contradictory for schools to be expected to promote BV despite one being individual liberty.
August 8, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Australia has a similar concept; you could compare the lists.
You can also use case studies as stimuli and ask pupils to evaluate the extent to which BV are being upheld/adhered to, or discuss whether its contradictory for schools to be expected to promote BV despite one being individual liberty.
You can also use case studies as stimuli and ask pupils to evaluate the extent to which BV are being upheld/adhered to, or discuss whether its contradictory for schools to be expected to promote BV despite one being individual liberty.
I encourage pupils to consider whether or not they're inherently British (i.e. have ownership over them) or ideals to work towards. Also interesting to highlight the original Prevent strategy which included free speech and equality of opportunity.
August 8, 2025 at 7:47 AM
I encourage pupils to consider whether or not they're inherently British (i.e. have ownership over them) or ideals to work towards. Also interesting to highlight the original Prevent strategy which included free speech and equality of opportunity.
I think it's important to highlight where a view is personal rather than fact, and to make clear that pupils should decide themselves.
Politics isn't part of PSHE - it's Citizenship, which is part of the National Curriculum. The non-statutory programme of study may become statutory with the CAR.
Politics isn't part of PSHE - it's Citizenship, which is part of the National Curriculum. The non-statutory programme of study may become statutory with the CAR.
August 8, 2025 at 7:40 AM
I think it's important to highlight where a view is personal rather than fact, and to make clear that pupils should decide themselves.
Politics isn't part of PSHE - it's Citizenship, which is part of the National Curriculum. The non-statutory programme of study may become statutory with the CAR.
Politics isn't part of PSHE - it's Citizenship, which is part of the National Curriculum. The non-statutory programme of study may become statutory with the CAR.
I'd argue differently - it doesn't say you can't give an opinion, it says not to take advantage of vulnerability or incite lawbreaking.
You can absolutely discuss political issues, you just need to show impartiality over time. It's not BBC-style immediate equivalence, but varied views.
You can absolutely discuss political issues, you just need to show impartiality over time. It's not BBC-style immediate equivalence, but varied views.
August 8, 2025 at 7:40 AM
I'd argue differently - it doesn't say you can't give an opinion, it says not to take advantage of vulnerability or incite lawbreaking.
You can absolutely discuss political issues, you just need to show impartiality over time. It's not BBC-style immediate equivalence, but varied views.
You can absolutely discuss political issues, you just need to show impartiality over time. It's not BBC-style immediate equivalence, but varied views.