Ethical and Active Citizenship

Our Vision

At Heyes Lane, we believe that everyone can make a difference. Ethical and Active Citizenship reflects our core values and embodies the ethos of our school community. We aim to nurture pupils who are thoughtful, responsible and motivated to make positive contributions to their school, their local community and the wider world. We want our children to grow up understanding that their actions matter - whether they are caring for others, looking after the environment or taking part in meaningful social action. Through this curriculum, we help children develop the knowledge, skills and values needed to participate confidently in society and to become compassionate, ethical and active citizens of the future.

Curriculum Overview

Ethical and Active Citizenship is more than a curriculum; it is a way of thinking and acting. Our bespoke EAC curriculum is built around two key elements: Social Action Projects and our Teaching Curriculum.

Social Action Projects

Each year, pupils take part in a range of meaningful social action projects that allow them to see the real impact of their choices and actions. These projects are chosen with pupil voice at the centre and connect directly to issues they care about. Examples of recent social action include:

partnering with local Girl Guides to create hospital bags for families supported by local charities
supporting the homeless through fundraising and awareness activities
raising money for local charities such as CAFT (Children’s Adventure Farm Trust)
taking part in the Walk to School Scheme to promote sustainable travel
exploring environmental responsibility in assemblies, such as recycling, litter reduction and community care

We also appoint Eco Leaders who work collaboratively across school to promote positive environmental change. They raise awareness of recycling, lead assemblies and encourage others to make sustainable choices.

Through our wider curriculum Themes, pupils explore global and environmental issues in depth, for example, the impact of mountain tourism, ocean pollution and its effects on marine life, the consequences of deforestation and palm oil plantations in Indonesia and Sumatra, and the importance of bees in our ecosystem. Learning is always linked back to what children can do, encouraging them to reflect on how small, manageable changes in daily life can make a meaningful difference.

The Teaching Curriculum

Our EAC teaching curriculum supports pupils to understand the world around them and their role within it. It is structured into two strands:

People

Planet

Children learn about:

British Values
the law and justice
human rights
the economy
democracy and politics
diversity and inclusion
peace and conflict

Children explore:

caring for the environment and local community
climate change and sustainability
types of pollution and the impact on the natural world
energy use and resources
fair trade and global responsibility

This knowledge helps pupils understand how society functions and how they can contribute positively.

These topics help pupils appreciate their connection to the wider world and understand how their choices affect the planet.

Intent

Our intent is for social action projects and EAC learning to offer a triple benefit - to the child, to the school and to the wider community. Projects respond to real issues, are meaningful to pupils and may change based on current affairs or local needs. We want children to see that their voice matters, their actions have impact, and they have the power to change things for the better.

Outcomes

Through our Ethical and Active Citizenship curriculum, pupils, staff and the wider Heyes Lane community work together to create positive change. Children experience pride in contributing to causes they care about and gain a clear understanding of why we support different groups of people. Most importantly, pupils develop the belief that they can make a difference - because they see evidence of their positive impact in action.