Resource

Be Your Own Councillor

This one-hour resource looks at the role local government has in making public spending decisions.

 

Photo Credit: John Anderson/HooverSun

Overview

Students examine ways in which a fictional town council could spend its budget. They consider the concerns of different residents and analyse how the budget could be spent most effectively. Finally students present and justify their budgets, defending their decision making in front of ‘local residents’.

Aimed at KS4 or Post-16, by the end of the lesson students will:

  • Describe the role of local government;
  • Consider some of the competing demands on local council budgets;
  • Present their ideas on how a local council budget should be spent, reflecting on the different needs of the community.

 

Acknowledgements:

This classroom resource was developed in partnership with global business advisory firm FTI Consulting. Their support enabled this specialist resource to be developed and distributed to schools for free.

More Lessons resources

Lessons, Understanding Rules & The Law, KS4 (ages 14-16)

Tackling Discrimination (SmartLaw Subscription)

This lesson asks students to explore whether or not we have a moral or legal obligation to tackle discrimination when we see it. It can be delivered as a stand-alone…

Lessons, Understanding Rules & The Law, KS3 (ages 11-14)

Your Legal Rights and Responsibilities (SmartLaw Subscription)

This lesson introduces students to the concepts of their legal rights and responsibilities and explores how the law impacts their daily lives. Students explore the different ages that various laws…

Lessons, Relationships, KS2 (ages 7-11)

What is a Citizen?

In this lesson pupils will be encouraged to think of themselves as citizens with the potential to make a positive difference in society. The lesson opens with the traditional tale…

More Economics, Money and Managing Resources resources

Lessons, Economics, Money and Managing Resources, KS2 (ages 7-11)

Why Do We Pay Taxes? (Part 1)

Pupils will learn that public services are largely funded through the payment of taxes to the government. To access this content, register for our School Subscription.

Lessons, Politics and Democracy, KS3 (ages 11-14)

Local and Central Government

This resource pack is the third of a four-part set which has been designed to introduce students to the...

Lessons, Understanding Rules & The Law, KS5 (ages 16-18)

Housing Law (SmartLaw Subscription)

In this lesson students explore a range of different housing situations someone can find themselves in. They examine some of the common legal issues concerning housing including common landlord and…

More Politics and Democracy resources

Lessons, Politics and Democracy, KS4 (ages 14-16)

Democracy Ambassadors

What was Democracy Ambassadors? Between April 2018 and March 2019 Young Citizens worked with youth leaders to recruit 1,000...

Lessons, Sustainability and the Environment, KS4 (ages 14-16)

Mock G7 Pack

The UK hosted the G7 Summit in June 2021. Young Citizens wants to engage young people across the UK...

Lessons, Sustainability and the Environment, KS4 (ages 14-16)

Biodiversity: Using the Law to Drive Change

During this lesson, students consider what biodiversity is, why it is essential to all life on Earth and what...

More KS4 (ages 14-16) resources

Lessons, Understanding Rules & The Law, KS3 (ages 11-14)

Sentencing Myths (SmartLaw Subscription)

This short activity challenges young people’s perceptions of current sentencing guidelines. It can be run as a standalone activity or as an extension activity as part of a mock trial…

Lessons, Digital Citizenship, KS3 (ages 11-14)

Filter Bubbles: Tell Me What I Want To Hear

A “filter bubble” describes how algorithms limit and skew the information users see on the internet. In this lesson,...

Lessons, Understanding Rules & The Law, KS3 (ages 11-14)

Cyberbullying (SmartLaw Subscription)

According to research by the charity Ditch the Label, 7 in 10 young people have experienced cyberbullying, 20% of whom experience it daily. Support your students to know their legal…

More KS5 (ages 16-18) resources

Lessons, Economics, Money and Managing Resources, KS5 (ages 16-18)

The Government and the Economy

By the end of the lesson students will: Understand key economic terms including taxation, welfare benefits, public spending and...

Lessons, Understanding Rules & The Law, KS4 (ages 14-16)

Mock Trials Classroom Pack

The Mock Trial Competitions are our longest-running active citizenship experiences. Since 1991, we have provided unparalleled exposure to the...

Lessons, Digital Citizenship, KS4 (ages 14-16)

Who Owns Your Data?

This ready-to-teach double lesson pack is aimed at students in key stages 4 and 5. During the course of...