GCSE Citizenship Studies subject update
Autumn 2026
Welcome to our autumn 2026 newsletter
We hope you've had a restful summer and are looking forward to the new academic year. Whether you're welcoming a new cohort of GCSE Citizenship students or preparing students for their exam, we'd like to wish you a very warm welcome back.
Citizenship is in an exciting position. Following the publication of the Government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review, Citizenship's unique contribution to young people's understanding of democracy, politics, rights, responsibilities and active participation has never felt more important. As teachers, you play a vital role in helping students make sense of an increasingly complex world and empowering them to become informed, active and engaged citizens.
This term, we’re looking forward to continuing to support our Citizenship community through a range of professional development opportunities, resources, events and networks. In this update, you'll find information about the support available this autumn term, together with resources, opportunities and updates that we hope will help with planning, teaching and assessment.
If any members of your team would like to receive subject-specific updates, they can easily sign up for AQA subject updates , so they’re always informed and part of our community.
Thank you for everything you do to champion Citizenship in your schools and colleges. We look forward to working with many of you over the coming year and hearing about the fantastic work taking place in classrooms across the country.
Best wishes,
Rachel Livingstone and Sarah Fawcett
Subject Support for Citizenship
Stay up to date with assessment reform
This autumn, the Department for Education (DfE) is expected to launch its subject content consultation, confirming which subjects will be included in phase 1, sharing draft proposals and inviting feedback from teachers, schools and exam boards.
There’s nothing you need to do right now. When the consultation launches, we’ll help you understand what it means for you, what’s changing in phase 1 subjects and how you can have your say.
Help shape the future of digital assessment
We’d like to hear about your experiences of digital teaching, learning and assessment through a short survey.
By sharing your experiences, you’ll help us shape the guidance, resources and support teachers need as digital assessment continues to evolve.
The survey contains 24 questions, takes around 12 minutes to complete and closes on 1 November 2026. As a thank you, participants who complete the survey can enter a prize draw for the chance to win one of four £50 gift vouchers.
Curriculum Connects
This autumn, we’ll be delivering Curriculum Connect sessions for GCSE Citizenship teachers, where we’ll provide a question-by-question run-through of the 2026 exam series. These sessions will explore key messages from the papers, highlight areas where students performed well and consider where there may be opportunities to strengthen teaching, assessment and exam preparation. We’ll also share practical reflections on what the series tells us about student understanding, common challenges and how we can use these insights to support future cohorts.
We’ll also be running an informal Active Citizenship clinic, where teachers can explore project ideas, share good practice and build confidence in delivering this important element of the course.
Whether you’re new to teaching Citizenship or looking to refine your approach, we hope these sessions will offer useful guidance, reassurance and ideas to take back into the classroom.
Upcoming sessions:
- GCSE Citizenship: Exploring GCSE Paper 1 – Thursday 15 October, 4pm–5pm
- GCSE Citizenship: Exploring GCSE Paper 2 – Tuesday 20 October, 4pm–5pm
- Active Citizenship Clinic – Tuesday 10 November, 4pm–5pm
Community links
ACT – Association of Citizenship Teachers
We were delighted that AQA was the headline sponsor of this year's ACT National Conference. The conference brought together Citizenship teachers, educational leaders and subject experts from across the country to celebrate and champion Citizenship education at a particularly important time for the subject. If you're not already familiar with ACT, we'd strongly encourage you to explore the ACT website, which contains a wealth of free resources, teaching materials, guidance, research, policy updates and professional development opportunities for Citizenship teachers. Whether you're looking for classroom resources, curriculum support or opportunities to connect with the wider Citizenship community, ACT remains an invaluable source of support for teachers at all stages of their careers.
Voice 21
Recently, Sarah was pleased to meet with Voice 21, the UK's leading oracy education charity, to learn more about their work and the support they offer schools. Their resource hub contains a wealth of practical materials, lesson ideas, guidance and professional development resources to help teachers develop students' speaking, listening and discussion skills. Many of these resources align particularly well with Citizenship education, where discussion, debate, critical thinking and student voice sit at the heart of the curriculum. If you're looking to strengthen oracy in your classroom, it's well worth exploring the Voice 21 resource hub.
Thinking about switching to AQA Citizenship for GCSE?
If you're considering offering GCSE Citizenship Studies or moving to AQA, our Switchingguide isa great place to start. It provides a clear overview of the specification, highlights the support available to teachers and offers practical guidance to help make the transition as straightforward as possible. Whether you're exploring Citizenship for the first time or reviewing your current provision, the guide will help you understand how AQA can support both you and your students throughout the course.
Get more with MyAQA
myAQA gives you access to everything you need to plan, teach and assess, including our secure extranet – Centre Services. Here you’ll find essential resources, such as the latest past papers, as well as Teacher Online Standardisation (T-OLS) and much more.
Don’t have a myAQA account yet? Complete a short form to get started. Once your Exams Officer has verified your registration, then you’re ready to go.
Free CPD courses and events – autumn 2026
National Programme training events
To complement the autumn Curriculum Connect sessions, we’d also encourage you to book onto our National Programme training events. These sessions will be led by an AQA senior examiner and will provide a much deeper dive into the questions that proved most challenging for students in the 2026 exam series. Using real student responses, you'll explore common misconceptions, understand how marks were awarded and gain practical insights into what examiners were looking for in the strongest answers. Together, the Curriculum Connect and National Programme events will provide a comprehensive overview of the summer series, helping you translate examiner feedback into effective classroom practice and support your students to achieve their full potential in future exams. In the link below, you can also access previous on-demand and National Programme courses.
Student Advisory Group recruitment for 2026/27
Help your learners influence the future of exams
We’re looking for learners to join our Student Advisory Group for 2026/27. The group gives young people a direct opportunity to share their experiences and views on qualifications, assessments and the wider exam system. Their insights will help shape the future of the curriculum, qualifications and assessments for young people, as well as our work to offer new vocational qualifications.
If you know any learners who may be interested, please encourage them to apply – we’re looking for students who have taken AQA qualifications, though this is not essential, and they can be sitting general or vocational qualifications.
Applications open: Monday 7 September 2026
Applications close: 5.00pm on Monday 21 September 2026
Thank you for helping us raise awareness of this opportunity among your learners. For more information about the Student Advisory Group and details on how to apply, please visit our website.
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) within assessments
Read the latest JCQ guidance on the use of AI in assessments in the AI in assessments: protecting the integrity of qualifications document. The guidance explains how AI can be used appropriately in assessments and outlines the requirements for reporting suspected misuse.
Stay connected
Whatever your question, our Subject Support team is here to help.
Email: citizenship@aqa.org.uk
Call: 01483 477 791, Monday to Friday, 8am–5pm.