ACT Launches Strategic Plan 2024-2030 – A Vision for Citizenship Education
ACT unveils its Strategic Plan for 2024-2030, a roadmap to advance high quality Citizenship education for every pupil
The Association for Citizenship Teaching (ACT) unveils its Strategic Plan for 2024-2030, a roadmap to advance high quality Citizenship education in schools and empower young people to participate actively in democracy. Developed through collaboration with ACT Trustees, Council members, educators, and interested parties, the plan reflects our commitment to building a fairer and more inclusive society.
Four Strategic Priorities
The Strategic Plan focuses on four key priorities:
- Demanding a high-quality, statutory Citizenship curriculum for every learner.
Advocating for Citizenship as a core subject, ensuring every student develops the knowledge and skills to thrive as informed citizens. - Reinvigorating the teaching community through Citizenship.
Supporting teachers with specialist training, professional development, and resources to inspire outstanding Citizenship teaching. - Strengthening the quality of Citizenship through evaluation and accountability.
Embedding clear standards and improving evaluation mechanisms to ensure consistent, high-quality Citizenship education. - Promoting democratic, active citizenship in every school and setting.
Encouraging schools to embrace democratic practices and active citizenship as part of their culture and community.
The need for effective Citizenship education has never been greater in this volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world we live in. Young people need the knowledge, skills and understanding embodied in the Citizenship curriculum to enable them to become democratic citizens and acquire this through the expertise of great teachers. We must become more effective and sophisticated in enabling young people to make sense of the vast amount of content freely available to them, weighing up the evidence that supports the claims that those in societies make. We also need to develop oracy skills, so that young people are confident in articulating their informed opinions and challenging those who seek to deceive.
Marcus Bhargava
ACT Chair of Trustees
ACT’s Theory of Change: A Clear Path to Impact
The Strategic Plan is underpinned by ACT’s Theory of Change, which maps out how our actions—teacher training, resource development, advocacy—lead to measurable outcomes like improved student engagement and democratic resilience. By focusing on curriculum, community, and culture, ACT aims to empower educators and students alike to shape a vibrant democracy.
Building Momentum Amidst the Curriculum Review
The launch of ACT’s Strategic Plan comes at a pivotal time, aligning with the Department for Education’s Curriculum and Assessment Review. This context provides an opportunity to re-centre Citizenship education in schools. The plan complements ongoing initiatives, such as the Make Space for Citizenship campaign and ACT’s recent submissions to the review, which advocate for the prioritisation of Citizenship as a statutory subject.
Join Us in Shaping the Future
As new and returning supporters engage with our activities and campaigns, we invite you to explore our strategic vision and join us in ensuring every young person receives high-quality Citizenship education. ACT’s overall membership has increased by over 120% between 2023 and 2024. Together, we can equip young people with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to create a strong and inclusive democracy.
Access ACT’s Strategic Plan below.
Read our strategic plan in fullThis strategic plan marks an exciting new phase for ACT as we continue to champion high-quality Citizenship education. It provides a clear roadmap to achieve our mission of equipping every young person with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to actively participate in and shape a thriving democracy.
Liz Moorse
ACT Chief Executive
