The Attorney General's Office has launched a groundbreaking initiative providing free lesson plans on the rule of law for all English and Welsh schools. This move is part of a collaborative effort between the Attorney General's Office, Oak National Academy, and the Association of Citizenship Teachers to educate young people about their rights and the workings of the legal system.
The comprehensive resources cater to students aged 5-16 and are designed with input from expert educators, as well as feedback from teachers. The lesson plans vary in complexity, starting with fundamental lessons for five-year-olds on the reasons behind rules and progressing to more advanced material examining contemporary challenges to the rule of law.
Each lesson is accompanied by task worksheets, explanatory videos, and quizzes, making the learning experience interactive and engaging. These resources are freely available for teachers to download from the Oak National Academy's website, which serves as a significant platform for this educational rollout and is used by approximately three-quarters of schools in England.
The introduction of these resources provides a practical illustration of how citizenship education can be enhanced, aligning with broader curriculum reviews. The Department for Education identifies the rule of law as a Fundamental British Value, underscoring the importance of this educational push.
To mark the launch, Attorney General Richard Hermer KC and Advocate General of Scotland Catherine Smith KC visited Ark Blake Academy in Croydon on Thursday 2 July 2026. They observed a Year 9 lesson using the new materials and engaged with students, answering their questions.
Richard Hermer KC highlighted the significance of the initiative, stating that every child deserves to understand the laws and rights that protect them. He noted that previously, many schools lacked high-quality resources for teaching these concepts confidently, a gap that these new, free lesson plans aim to fill. John Roberts, CEO of Oak National Academy, praised the collaborative effort, saying that the resources will empower teachers to facilitate crucial discussions about the rule of law in classrooms, helping pupils become informed, active citizens.