Teaching the rule of law

New lessons to support meaningful citizenship education

The rule of law is one of the fundamental British values that schools are required to promote as part of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Yet for many teachers, it can feel like one of the hardest concepts to bring to life in a way that feels relevant, engaging and meaningful for pupils.

At Oak, we know that teachers need high-quality, well-sequenced resources to feel confident teaching complex civic concepts. That is why, working with our Citizenship curriculum partner – the Association for Citizenship Teaching (ACT) – we have developed a new set of rule of law lesson resources. Whilst creating the lessons, we have worked alongside the Attorney General’s Office and their Rule of Law Unit.

Explore the lessons resources:

• Rule of law primary
• Rule of law secondary

Why teaching the rule of law matters

There is a clear and growing need for pupils to better understand how laws are made, applied and upheld and why they matter in everyday life. This is not just a curriculum requirement. It is something young people themselves are asking for.

Research from the Electoral Commission, focusing on 11 to 25 year-olds, found that 72 per cent of young people want to be taught more about elections and politics in school.

Our new rule of law lesson resources are designed to address that need, providing you with resources that build your pupils’ knowledge.

A pupil-centred approach grounded in fairness

Our approach is informed by research from More in Common, which found that the most effective way to frame the rule of law for young people is through ideas of fairness and fair play. Rather than starting with abstract legal principles, these lessons begin with concepts your pupils already understand, such as rules, consequences and fairness, and gradually build towards more formal legal ideas.

By anchoring learning in pupils’ lived experiences, the lessons help them see the rule of law not as something distant or purely institutional, but as a system that shapes their rights, responsibilities and protections.

What pupils will learn

Across the sequence, pupils explore the five core components of the rule of law:

• Acting within the law
• Equality before the law
• Judicial independence
• Legal certainty
• Access to justice.

These ideas are revisited and developed across key stages, allowing your pupils to deepen their understanding over time in a clear and coherent way.

Designed to support teachers

All lesson resources are fully downloadable and adaptable, making it easy for you to tailor them to your pupils and your wider curriculum plans.

Each lesson also includes additional teacher-facing materials, offering clear explanations, background context and practical guidance (such as misconceptions and teacher tips) to support effective delivery. These materials are designed to build confidence and clarity, helping you feel well-equipped to teach the rule of law accurately and thoughtfully, regardless of your prior experience with the subject.

Explore the full set of rule of law lessons and download the resources: