actions or behaviours that are considered morally acceptable or unacceptable based on societal values or personal beliefs

rules, usually made by Parliament, that are used to order the way in which a society behaves

the minimum age at which a person can be legally considered responsible for a crime

What is the age of criminal responsibility?

Citizenship

What are laws?

How are laws made? Criminal vs civil law

Can citizens change laws?

How is the criminal justice system applied to young people?

Deliberative discussion: Should the age of criminal responsibility be changed?

In this unit, pupils explore what the law is and how criminal and civil laws are made. They examine what role citizens can have in changing the law and consider how the justice system should apply to young people.

What is the law and how is it changed?

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Complete this sentence: In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the age of criminal responsibility is ...

the minimum age a person can be held legally responsible for a crime

Match the word to the correct definition. 

because we start considering the impact of our actions

Why does our understanding of right and wrong evolve as we age?

protections against being held responsible for crimes

What was removed in 1998 for those aged 10–14 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland?

they may face other forms of intervention

What happens if children under the age of 10 break the law in England, Wales or Northern Ireland?

Put the countries in order of which has the lowest age of criminal responsibility.

a formal place where legal cases are heard and justice is applied

a person who hears less serious cases in local courts

Match the words with their correct definitions.

Fill in the gap: A {{}} is a legal decision made after a person has been found guilty of a crime, and it determines their punishment.

Youth courts have the same procedures as adult courts.

Youth courts focus more on rehabilitation and wellbeing.

Which of the following is a key difference between youth courts and adult courts?

the right to have an appropriate adult with them

the right to remain silent only if guilty

Which of these is a right that young people have when arrested?

What ages of people do youth courts deal with?

If a case involving a young person is very serious, it is dealt with by a ...

What is the age of criminal responsibility?

Lesson outcome

Content guidance