Year 8 - Citizenship
What is the age of criminal responsibility?
What is the law and how is it changed?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
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.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain how individuals choose right from wrong, explain what the age of criminal responsibility is and how it applies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Key Notes
- As we age, our understanding of right and wrong evolves from following rules to considering the impact of our actions.
- Everyone must follow the law, but in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the age of criminal responsibility is 10.
- It has been 10 since 1963, with changes in 1998 which removed protections for those aged 10-14.
- The age of criminal responsibility is different around the world, for example, in Cuba it is 16 and in Grenada it is 7.
Vocabulary To Learn
- right and wrong: actions or behaviours that are considered morally acceptable or unacceptable based on societal values or personal beliefs
- law: rules, usually made by Parliament, that are used to order the way in which a society behaves
- crime: an illegal act that is punishable by law
- age of criminal responsibility: the minimum age at which a person can be legally considered responsible for a crime
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Children under the age of 10 have no consequences for their actions.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
As we age, our understanding of right and wrong evolves from following rules to considering the impact of our actions. Everyone must follow the law, but in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the age of criminal responsibility is 10.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'right and wrong'
actions or behaviours that are considered morally acceptable or unacceptable based on societal values or personal beliefs.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Children under the age of 10 have no consequences for their actions. Correction: Whilst the age of criminal responsbility in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 10, this does not mean children under this age will face no conseqences if they break the law. They may still face other forms of intervention.
More Lessons In This Unit
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