Should public services be privatised?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how different ownership affects funding and discuss whether public services should be privatised or owned by the Government.
Key learning points
- Public services, like the NHS, are primarily funded through taxation, ensuring equitable access to essential services.
- Private services rely on customer payments and private investment, often prioritising profit generation.
- Government ownership ensures consistent service delivery nationwide and long-term infrastructure investment.
- Privatisation can drive efficiency, innovation and service improvements.
- The UK has a combined economy to balance equity, competition and economic efficiency, using private and public funds.
Keywords
Public - in this context, owned and run by the UK Government and funded out of tax
Private - owned and run by companies that have nothing to do with the Government and are funded by shareholders and investors
Privatised - public services that have been sold by the UK Government to private companies to run on their behalf
Common misconception
All public services are owned and run by the UK Government.
Since Margaret Thatcher's Government (1979-1990), many public services in the UK have been sold and are now owned by private companies, including British Rail, British Steel, British Telecom and British Gas.
Teacher tip
Research a local public service that has been sold to a private company in order to use an example from the local community to discuss the pros and cons of privatisation with pupils.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is one consequence of central government reducing funding for local councils?
Q2.Why might a local council struggle to plan long-term spending?
Q3.Why might some people oppose borrowing to fund public services?
Q4.Why can government spending priorities change over time?
Q5.Fill in the gap: Local government funding addresses -specific needs like local roads, public housing, waste management and schools.
Q6.Match each revenue source to its correct description.
the rate at which the prices of goods and services rise over time
the Government's yearly financial plan
the charges imposed by the Government on citizens and corporations
government department responsible for managing the country's finances
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the words to their correct definitions.
services owned by the Government and funded through taxation
services owned by companies and funded by customers or investors
when a government-owned service is sold to a private company
Q2.Which Prime Minister introduced large-scale privatisation in the UK?
Q3.Which of the following has not been fully privatised in the UK?
Q4.What is one perceived benefit of privatisation?
Q5.Fill in the gap: The UK has a economy, meaning that funding comes from a range of sources.
Q6.Why might some people prefer the Government to run all essential services?
To help you plan your 10 citizenship lesson on: Should public services be privatised?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 citizenship lesson on: Should public services be privatised?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 citizenship lessons from the How does the economy work? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.