Living and working in the UK: an introduction

Know about the geography of the United Kingdom (UK).

Make-up of UK

Four home countries or nations

• England
• Wales
• Northern Ireland
• Scotland

Key places

Key places might be largely within own area, so if located in North West – Manchester, Liverpool, Lake District, and London as capital. They could also be of key personal significance – where friends or other family members live.

Assessment Criteria

• 1.1

  Identify which countries belong to the UK.

• 1.2

  Identify the individual countries on a map of the UK.

• 1.3

  Locate approximately current home town/area on a map of the UK.

• 1.4

  Identify some key places (e.g. cities, towns, areas) within the UK.

Know how to get to know people and places in own local area.

Getting to know local people and places

Local clubs and groups: sporting, social, connected with particular age, e.g. groups for older adults, or with particular circumstances, e.g. parent groups.

Locations where groups meet: general locations for multiple groups such as library, church hall, school, park or playing fields, leisure centre, and specific locations for particular groups of specific interest to the individual, e.g. local rugby club.

Sources of information: noticeboards in key locations; community websites and newsletters; local newspapers; college/learning centre info points; word of mouth.

Ways to interact with neighbours: knocking on doors and introducing self when first move in; saying hello when you see them on the street/stairway/lift; offer older neighbours help, e.g. to put out or collect bins; ask neighbours for simple advice/info on the local area; get involved in community activity, e.g. community clear-up days or litter-picking in local park.

Assessment Criteria

• 2.1

  Identify local clubs and groups, relevant to self, and the places that they meet.

• 2.2

  State where you can find out about local activities or events.

• 2.3

  Identify ways to interact with your neighbours.

Know about responsibilities and freedoms in the UK.

Responsibilities:

• respect and obey the law
• respect the rights of others, including their right to their own opinions
• treat others with fairness
• look after yourself and your family
• look after the area in which you live and the environment.

Rights:

• freedom of belief and religion
• freedom of speech
• freedom from unfair discrimination
• a right to a fair trial
• a right to join in the election of a government.

Assessment Criteria

• 3.1

  Give examples of ways in which all UK residents are expected to act.

• 3.2

  Give examples of key rights or freedoms that people have in the UK.

Know about the education system in the UK.

Phases

• Early years: 3-5 years; nursery schools, nursery classes and reception classes within primary schools, pre-schools, childminders
• Primary education: 5-11; primary schools
• Secondary education: 11-16/18 secondary schools, high schools, academies, comprehensive schools, grammar schools
• Further Education: 16+; further education colleges; sixth form colleges; adult education settings
• Higher Education: 18+; universities.

Learners do not need to be able to list all these different types of setting but to be aware of the key types and to know about those particularly relevant to their own circumstances.

Compulsory education: ages 5 (4 in Northern Ireland) – 16.

Learners might be introduced to the idea of mandatory participation in education or training up to age 18, introduced through the Raising of the Participation Age, but understanding of this will not be assessed.

Assessment Criteria

• 4.1

  Identify the five main phases of the education system in the UK.

• 4.2

  State the ages of pupils/students normally found in each main phase.

• 4.3

  Identify a key type of setting related to each phase.

• 4.4

  State the ages between which education is compulsory for all children.