ONLY one in three people vote in town hall elections in East Lancashire -- but now youngsters are being taught that exercising their franchise is as important as reciting their French.

A new subject has appeared on the school timetable aimed at encouraging today's teenagers to become tomorrow's model citizens who understand their rights and responsibilities as members of society .

It might even mean queues at the ballot box in the council elections of 2010.

Citizenship became a statutory part of the National Curriculum in secondary schools when pupils returned to their desks after the summer holiday. And already one school has organised a conference for pupils from across Blackburn to capitalise on the work that is getting off the ground in classrooms.

Ruby Hussain, headteacher at Beardwood High School, said: "I'm passionate about teaching the whole child. I want to get together pupils across the gender and ethnic mix to to share what they experience in their lives and find out what is important to others."

It's a philosophy that is being echoed in schools across the region as Citizenship beds in.

The new subject is the brainchild of former Education Secretary David Blunkett , who was worried about the levels of political know-how in Britain -- and those 30 per cent election turnouts. Its aim is to encourage pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills said: "We want to prepare every pupil for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life."

Beyond Blackburn and Darwen, Lancashire County Council has organised a score of courses for staff trying to get to grips with the peculiar demands of teaching Citizenship. And Walshaw High School in Burnley is one of many which has set up a school council involving pupils in important decision-making -- and voting.

At Beardwood, Ruby Hussain said: "One benefit which can come out of Citizenship is that the diversity which exists in Blackburn and Darwen should be celebrated. That's why we have organised the Citizenship conference for all our high schools, including our special schools.

"It should be a good learning opportunity for our pupils."

The conference will be held at the Jan's Conference Centre in Blackburn on October 16.