Jerome, Lee Paul; (2012) Citizenship education : a case study of curriculum policy. Doctoral thesis , Institute of Education, University of London.

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Abstract

In this thesis I argue that citizenship education was one of a range of domestic policies through which New Labour politicians imagined and sought to create the ideal citizen. It follows that in order to fully understand what happened to citizenship education policy under New Labour, it is essential to assess it within the broader political context. This is the first study to explore the connections between the political context of New Labour, the model of citizenship education which was promoted and the provision that developed in schools. Whilst most analyses of this area have characterised the policy as essentially communitarian, I argue that the model of citizenship education was broadly civic republican in character. I discuss the model and the tensions within it by considering (i) rights and responsibilities, (ii) active citizenship and (iii) community and diversity. I argue that the tensions in policy have often been replicated, rather than resolved, at school level. I have sought to understand the implementation of citizenship education policy from the top down and from the bottom up. The top down account draws on previously published national surveys and the bottom up story is told through an in-depth case study of a single school. The school case study was constructed in collaboration with a group of student co-researchers, which provides a distinctive methodological perspective and an insight into how Citizenship has been experienced by young people. Whilst the policy has failed to achieve all that was intended, there are important lessons to learn. I argue that future citizenship education policy should address the nature of the curriculum more explicitly by communicating aims and purposes more clearly, acknowledging the process of local interpretation, addressing the issue of subject status and connecting more explicitly with community-based opportunities.

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