NfER/DfES Evaluation of the Post 16 Citizenship Development Projects

In September 2001, a three year development phase of post-16 citizenship began and, at the same time, the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) commissioned NfER to undertake a three year evaluation of the development. The specific aims of the evaluation are to identify the conditions necessary for the success of post-16 citizenship, to identify the forms of citizenship provision which appear the most effective, to assess the extent to which the development projects are meeting their own objectives and to examine the impact on young people's skills, attitudes and knowledge. The evaluation findings will assist in informing a potention national roll-out of citizenship in post-16 education and training routes from 2004.

Futher information is available from NfER at www.nfer.ac.uk/research/citizenship.asp

NfER/DfES Longitudinal Study

The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) has commissioned NfER to undertake a longitudinal study which will extend over a total of eight years, in order to track a cohort of young people who will enter secondary school in 2002, and will therefore be the first to have a continuous entitlement to citizenship education. The overarching aim of the project is to assess the short-term knowledge, skills and attitude of younge people aged 11-16. The study will collect detailed information about models of delivery in citizenship, and relate these to student outcomes in order to assess which models are particularly effective.

Further information is available from NfER at www.nfer.ac.uk/research/citizenship.asp

IEA Civics Project

England was one of twenty-eight countries that participated in the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) Civic Education study (known as the Citizenship Education Study in England).

The study has provided information about how people are prepared to undertake their role as citizens and it provides a useful baseline prior to the introduction of citizenship as a national curriculum subject.

Further information is available from NfER at www.nfer.ac.uk/research/citizenship.asp