§ Linda PerhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidelines have been issued to schools and local education authorities concerning the rights of children and young people to participate in decisions that affect them, as defined by Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. [5020]
§ Mr. TimmsThe Government strongly support the need to ascertain the views of young people in relation to decisions that affect them. Citizenship, a statutory secondary subject from September 2002, will teach young people about their rights and responsibilities and how to participate in the decision-making processes. This month, guidance written by teachers to support the effective delivery of citizenship in secondary schools was made freely available in draft form. This includes tried and tested teaching and learning ideas to encourage active participation by young people, for example through local democratic processes and student councils. It will be sent to all schools and LEAs in the autumn and is on the Department's Standards website.