Active citizenship: taking, planning and evaluating action - AQA GCSE Citizenship Studies
An overview of the Active citizenship theme of AQA GCSE Citizenship Studies, covering what citizenship action means, the difference between advocacy and direct action, how to plan and run an advocacy campaign, and how to evaluate the impact of action against its aims.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
Jump to a section
What this theme is about
Active citizenship is one of the main themes of AQA GCSE Citizenship Studies (8100) and a required practical part of the course. Rather than only learning how government and the law work, students investigate a citizenship issue, take action on it, and evaluate what happened. The theme develops the skills citizens use to bring about change.
Taking citizenship action
Active citizenship means taking part in the life of your community to bring about positive change. Citizenship action is the practical work involved, such as campaigning, fundraising, volunteering or lobbying. The course distinguishes advocacy, which influences decision-makers by speaking or acting on behalf of a cause, from direct action, which takes practical steps yourself such as a project or peaceful protest. Effective action draws on research, planning, teamwork, communication, persuasion and evaluation.
Planning an advocacy campaign
A campaign begins by choosing and researching an issue, then setting clear and realistic aims. Next you identify who has the power to make the change, such as a council, an MP or a school, and choose methods to influence them, for example a petition, a letter, a meeting, a survey or a media campaign. You then plan the practical details, including a timeline, tasks, roles and resources, and work as a team.
Evaluating citizenship action
Evaluation means judging how successful the action was, using evidence. You compare the outcome with the aims you set, asking whether each was achieved fully, partly or not at all. You gather evidence such as numbers reached, survey results and responses from decision-makers, and you reflect honestly on what went well, what problems arose and what you would change next time.
How this theme is examined
Questions ask about the skills and stages of citizenship action and may ask you to draw on your own action or a given scenario. Strong answers show the full process, research, planning, action and evaluation, and judge impact against aims using evidence.
Study tips
- Learn the process as a cycle: research, plan, act, evaluate.
- Be clear on advocacy versus direct action, with an example of each.
- Practise evaluating against aims, naming the evidence you would use.
- Use the dot point pages for each part of the theme, then test yourself with the quiz.
Sources & how we know this
- AQA GCSE Citizenship Studies (8100) specification — AQA (2016)