June 2025 Citizenship subject update

‘Citizenship Studies in the News’ aims to stimulate discussion for GCSE Citizenship Studies by considering contemporary issues and their relevance to our lives.

We have compiled a range of current news articles* and linked these to the key questions, explored in themes A-D of the specification. You may wish to investigate and integrate into your teaching practice to help contextualise key issues and bring the subject to life!

Edition 14 includes the following articles:

• Theme A: Article 1 - "The Supreme Court ruling gives clarity - but now comes the difficult part"- This article is written by Alison Holt and James Melley, BBC News. 
  Article 2 - "UK Supreme Court Ruling: What It Means for Transgender Rights in Britain" This article is published by GenderGP. 
• Theme B: Article 1 - “British Steel bill to save Scunthorpe plant becomes law as officials stand by to take control”- This article is published by BBC News.
  Article 2 - Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act, Originated in the House of Commons, Session 2024-25. 
• Theme C: "Why sentence women to short custodial sentences that don’t even work?"- This article is written by Leila Mezoughi. 
  
• Theme D: "What are Donald Trump's tariffs and how does it all affect the UK?" - This article is published by Sky News. 

Content Warning: the Theme C article is about custodial sentences for women and refers to domestic violence and self-harm. 

Edition 14

At this time of year, awarding organisations receive lots of reports about websites and social media accounts claiming to have 2025 live assessment material available for sale (exam papers, mark schemes). We wanted to take this opportunity to remind our centres that any student found to have accessed or participated in the sharing of 'leaked' examination material will receive sanctions.

Help us to protect the integrity of our assessments by reporting these accounts. Contact us via pqsmalpractice@pearson.com

Explore this useful infographic for your students

Join ACT for an online webinar where new academic research sheds light on the powerful role of Citizenship education in boosting political understanding and engagement among young people. This timely discussion explores how studying GCSE Citizenship Studies can help address inequalities in democratic participation. 

The online webinar will explore:

• Why many young people are disengaged from formal politics
• How Citizenship education is making a tangible impact
• What the research means for schools, policy and curriculum reform

 17th June 2025 4:00pm

To book your place, click below: 

Young People, Citizenship and Democracy Education: What the Evidence Tells Us | Association for Citizenship Teaching