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Explore how UK democracy works and compare global systems in this PSHE/citizenship lesson. Includes clips, worksheets, and discussion tasks.

This engaging lesson introduces students to the workings of UK parliamentary democracy and encourages comparison with other global systems of government. It’s ideal for KS3 or KS4 (Years 9–11) and supports the PSHE Association’s personal development framework and the citizenship curriculum.

This is Lesson 3 of a 7-lesson unit exploring UK democracy, human rights, and global citizenship — but it also works perfectly as a standalone lesson.

Lesson Focus:

What is democracy and how does it work in the UK?
What is political power and how is it shared?
How does the UK system compare to countries like the USA, China, Iran, and North Korea?
What’s Included:

Two linked BBC video clips with guided questions
Structured worksheets for UK and global government comparisons
Do Now starter task and hinge question to check understanding
SEND support sheet for differentiated access
Discussion prompts on rights, fairness, and global systems
Printable comparison chart for students to complete in pairs
Learning Objectives:

Must: Identify how UK parliamentary democracy works
Should: Compare UK democracy with other global systems
Could: Evaluate which system best protects citizens’ rights
This lesson promotes critical thinking, global awareness, and active citizenship, with opportunities for independent work, paired tasks, and class discussion.