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Citizenship and Well-being in Schools

citizenship and Well-being in schools

Part-time Master in Education (MEd)

New for 2010 Entry

This new Masters route is being introduced in October 2009, and leads the Faculty through its innovative structure. Students taking this route will be able to combine it with elements from another specialist route. This allows students to combine their interest in Citizenship and Well-being with another area of their professional concern. For more detail of routes available to combine see the relevant section below.

This route is ideal for students who have completed their Cambridge PGCE (at either primary or secondary level) and wish to build upon their practice within the area of citizenship and Well-being in schools.

Aims

This route will explore research and literature on pedagogy and practice for Citizenship and PSHE in schools, and will support participants to develop their practice and to investigate current provision in their school. It will consider historical, philosophical and theoretical perspectives on Citizenship and Well-being in schools.

It will give students the opportunity to:

  • Critically analyse theory and key debates on Citizenship Education and Well-being in schools, and policy imperatives such as Every Child Matters;
  • Critically evaluate research into pedagogy and practice for Citizenship Education and PSHE;
  • Sustain an argument on contested issues such as the assessment of Citizenship and PSHE, sex and relationships education, happiness in schools, democratic schooling, and the role of student voice;
  • Evaluate policy for Citizenship Education, PSHE and Well-being within their professional or volunteering context;
  • Combine the study of Citizenship and Well-being in Schools with the teaching offered on other routes.

The route will have a school-based focus and applications will be welcome from NQTs, early career teachers and local Citizenship and PSHE coordinators in both primary and secondary schools.

Route Content

Students on the Citizenship and Well-being Masters will complete the following sessions over the course of one year. They will complete one of the routes whose elements are available for combination in their other year of study.

Historical and theoretical perspectives on Citizenship Education

  1. Critical analysis of notions of Citizenship
  2. Citizenship Education: Past, present and future
  3. Democratic schools?

Researching pedagogy and practice in Citizenship Education

  1. Teaching political literacy through active and participatory pedagogy (Session to take place in the House of Commons, London)
  2. Teacher as researcher: Investigating Citizenship, PSHE and Well-being (1)
  3. Schools Councils, student voice, consultation and participation.
  4. Education for Global Citizenship and Sustainable Development
  5. Teacher as researcher: Investigating Citizenship, PSHE and Well-being (2)

Philosophical perspectives on happiness, identity and Well-being in schools

1. Theories of happiness and Well-being
2. Identity and belonging: Race, class and gender
3. Emotion and schooling

Researching pedagogy and practice in PSHE

4. Developing PSHE in schools: Pedagogies of Social and Emotional Well-being
5. Working with peers: students as mentors, buddies and mediators
6. Teaching controversial issues: Sex and relationships education
7. Health education: key debates
8. Teacher as researcher: Investigating Citizenship, PSHE and Well-being (3)

Assessment

Assesment will vary according to the route taken through the Masters

For First year MEd Students the route will be assessed through two 6,000 - 6,500 word assignments with a 20,000 word thesis being completed in their combined route.

For PGCE MEd students and 2nd year MEd Students the route will be assessed through a 20,000 word thesis


Route Leader/Convenor

Dr Hilary Cremin is Senior Lecturer in Social and Emotional Well-being.
She has worked in the public, private and voluntary sector as a school teacher, educational consultant, project coordinator and academic. Her research interests centre around social and emotional well-being of young people and conflict resolution in schools and communities. She is currently developing theory and practice investigating citizenship within young people from socio-economically disadvantaged groups.

Routes with elements available to combine with Citizenship and Well-being

The following routess are normally available to be combined with the Citizenship and Well-Being in Schools Route. Elements on offer each year may vary.

*The Educational and School Leadership route requires students to have had at least one year's post PGCE teaching experience prior to starting the route.