Global Citizenship

Today, more than ever before, the global community is part of our everyday lives. We are linked to others on every continent:

• socially through the media and telecommunications
• culturally through the movements of people
• economically through trade
• environmentally through sharing one planet
• politically through international relations and systems of regulation

At St. Helen's, we believe that we all have a vital role as citizens of this global community. We aim to give pupils the skills needed to make informed decisions, to take responsible actions and to have the opportunity to:

• critically examine their own values and attitudes
• appreciate the similarities between people everywhere and to value diversity
• understand the global context of their local lives
• develop skills that will enable them to combat injustice, prejudice and discrimination

Such knowledge, skills and understanding enable pupils not only to make informed decisions but also to play an active role in the global community.

Our lives are increasingly shaped by what happens in other parts of the world. Current use of the world's resources is inequitable and unsustainable. As the gap between rich and poor widens, poverty continues to deny millions of people around the world their basic rights. Education is a powerful tool for changing the world as tomorrow's adults are the children and young people we are educating today. Being a global citizen means you care about the planet and develop empathy with, and an active concern for, those with whom we share it.

As a Sixth Form student writes, "Today, global interdependence is a reality. Whether it's the clothes we wear or the technology we use, our daily lives are affected by what people on the other side of the planet are doing. It's important to know how our neighbours live, and what effect we have on them."
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