Professor of Sociology of Education, Carol Vincent, discusses how children are taught about 'fundamental British values' and the potential celebration of reductionist symbols of Britishness. Associate Professor David Bartram critically examines the UK citizenship test and its impact on immigrants' participation in British political and civic life. The podcast explores the challenges and implications of teaching fundamental British values in schools and controversies associated with representing British values.
The UK Citizenship Test assesses immigrants' knowledge of British culture but fails to encourage active participation in society, resulting in limited impact on civic and political engagement.
The promotion of Fundamental British Values in schools can perpetuate stereotypes and should be supplemented with citizenship education and training for teachers to foster a deeper understanding of the values.
Deep dives
The UK Citizenship Test
The podcast episode discusses the introduction of the UK Citizenship Test and examines its effectiveness in integrating immigrants into British society. The test was introduced in 2005 as a requirement for naturalization, and it aimed to assess immigrants' knowledge of British culture and history. However, the test received criticism for its emphasis on trivial facts and the passive nature of the questions, which positioned immigrants as submissive rather than encouraging active participation in society. The pass rates of the test varied among different immigrant groups, with those with higher levels of English proficiency having higher pass rates. The podcast raises questions about the test's impact on immigrants' engagement in politics and concludes that the test does not significantly contribute to their civic and political participation.
Promotion of Fundamental British Values in Schools
The episode explores the government's requirement for schools to promote Fundamental British Values (FBVs) and examines how teachers respond to this policy. The FBVs were introduced in 2014, following concerns about social cohesion and the need for integration. However, the research shows that teachers had mixed views on the effectiveness and implementation of promoting FBVs. Some schools used symbols and stereotypes of Britishness, such as the Queen and traditional British food, to represent the values. However, this approach was criticized for being exclusionary and presenting a fixed and monocultural version of Britishness. Other schools took a repackaging approach, integrating FBVs into existing activities and subjects. The episode suggests that more space should be created in the curriculum for citizenship education and training for teachers to discuss controversial issues with students.
Conclusion
The podcast episode concludes that both the UK Citizenship Test and the promotion of Fundamental British Values in schools have limitations in achieving the intended outcomes. The test focuses on trivial knowledge rather than encouraging active participation, and immigrant pass rates vary based on English proficiency. Similarly, the promotion of FBVs in schools can perpetuate stereotypes and fail to foster a deeper understanding of the values. The podcast suggests the need for a more comprehensive approach to integration that involves promoting democratic principles and providing space for discussing controversial issues in the curriculum.
Citizenship - Carol Vincent, Professor of Sociology of Education, explores the way in which children are being taught about ‘fundamental British values’ such as democracy and tolerance. Does this government imposed requirement too easily result in a celebration of reductionist symbols and stereotypes of Britishness - 'tea and the Queen'? Also, David Bartram, Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Leicester, takes a critical look at a UK ‘citizenship process’ which subjects immigrants to a test designed to enhance their participation in British political and civic life. Does it work?
Producer: Jayne Egerton
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