Deliberative discussion: Should the age of criminal responsibility be changed?
I can analyse and evaluate different perspectives on whether the age of criminal responsibility should be changed and form my own opinion based on evidence and reasoning.
Deliberative discussion: Should the age of criminal responsibility be changed?
I can analyse and evaluate different perspectives on whether the age of criminal responsibility should be changed and form my own opinion based on evidence and reasoning.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the age of criminal responsibility is ten and has remained the same since 1963.
- Some think the age of criminal responsibility should be raised, while others argue it should stay the same.
- In a deliberative discussion, we consider different viewpoints and can use the REAL model to structure our arguments.
Keywords
Law - rules, usually made by Parliament, that are used to order the way in which a society behaves
Age of criminal responsibility - the minimum age at which a person can be legally considered responsible for a crime
Crime - an illegal act that is punishable by law
Common misconception
The age of criminal responsibility is the same worldwide.
The age of criminal responsibility varies across countries. For example, in Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago it’s seven, while in Spain it’s 14.
To help you plan your year 8 citizenship lesson on: Deliberative discussion: Should the age of criminal responsibility be changed?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 citizenship lesson on: Deliberative discussion: Should the age of criminal responsibility be changed?, 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.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 3 citizenship lessons from the What is the law and how is it changed? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
a law or a set of laws passed by Parliament
a law that deals with disputes between individuals or groups
a person who has certain rights in a country
Exit quiz
6 Questions
rules made by Parliament that order the way in which a society behaves
an illegal act that is punishable by law
the minimum age a person is legally considered responsible for a crime