The subject of citizenship education aims to equip students with the necessary knowledge, skills, and understanding to become active and responsible citizens in a democratic society. This includes learning about democracy, politics, voting, human rights, justice, the law, media and information literacy, climate change and sustainability, personal finance, and the economy. The curriculum also emphasizes the development of political literacy and active citizenship through practical opportunities to address issues of concern through responsible, democratic action and campaigning. Real-life issues and case studies are used to bring the subject to life and provide a global perspective.

Primary schools in Northern Ireland are required to incorporate Citizenship into their curriculum by adhering to the non-statutory framework provided by the Department for Education. This framework serves as a guide for planning citizenship education in key stages 1 and 2. On the other hand, secondary schools have a legal obligation to teach Citizenship as a foundation subject within the National Curriculum. The Citizenship programmes of study outline the specific areas that schools must cover in order to foster the necessary knowledge, understanding, and skills as mandated by the national curriculum.

Citizenship education has received support from politicians of all parties, teachers, and young people who campaigned for it to be included in the curriculum. Even today, there is political support for the subject across party lines. In 1997, David Blunkett MP, the Secretary of State for Education, asked Professor Sir Bernard Crick to lead an Advisory Group on Citizenship and the Teaching of Democracy in Schools. The group produced a report, also known as the ‘Crick report’, which recommended the introduction of citizenship education. The report aimed to develop social and moral responsibility, political literacy, and community involvement. The government fully accepted the report, and citizenship education became a statutory National Curriculum foundation subject in 2002. The Association for Citizenship Teaching (ACT) was established in 2001 to provide support for teachers and others involved in delivering high-quality citizenship education in schools.

Citizenship became a statutory National Curriculum subject in England & N.Ireland in 2002, and this was when the first National Curriculum was published with a programme of study that sets out what schools need to address in their teaching. The programme of study was reviewed in 2007, for first teaching in 2008. Then again in 2013, for first teaching in 2014.  

During the most recent review, a coalition called Democratic Life set up a campaign to ensure there was continued and widespread support for Citizenship in the National Curriculum. The campaign was successful and Citizenship continues as a statutory National Curriculum subject in secondary schools today.