Year 7 WJEC Law: Transition Guide | Year 7 WJEC 法律：升学衔接指南

📚 Year 7 WJEC Law: Transition Guide | Year 7 WJEC 法律：升学衔接指南

Starting secondary school is a big step, and with it comes a new subject that shapes how we live together: Law. In Year 7, you will begin to explore the rules and principles that keep our society fair and safe. This guide will help you make a smooth transition from primary school and introduce you to the key ideas of the law in England and Wales, setting you up for success in your WJEC Citizenship and future legal studies.

升入中学是一大步，随之而来的是一门塑造我们共同生活方式的新学科：法律。在七年级，你将开始探索那些维持社会公平与安全的规则与原则。本指南将帮助你从小学顺利过渡，向你介绍英格兰和威尔士法律的关键理念，为你未来的 WJEC 公民教育及法律学习打下坚实基础。

1. What is Law? | 什么是法律？

Law is a set of rules made by the government that everyone in the country must follow. It tells us what we can and cannot do, and what happens if we break the rules. Unlike school rules, which only apply within your school, laws apply to every person in England and Wales.

法律是由政府制定的一套规则，国家里的每一个人都必须遵守。它告诉我们什么是可以做的、什么是不可以做的，以及违反规则会有什么后果。与只适用于学校的校规不同，法律适用于英格兰和威尔士的每一个人。

Laws are created to protect people, property and the environment. For example, the law says you must not steal, must not hurt others, and must drive on the left side of the road. Without law, there would be chaos and people would not feel safe.

法律是为了保护人们、财产和环境而设立的。例如，法律规定不得偷窃、不得伤害他人、必须靠左行驶。没有法律，社会就会陷入混乱，人们会感到不安全。

In your Citizenship lessons, you will learn that law is not just about punishment. It also gives us rights, like the right to education and the right to be treated fairly.

在公民教育课上，你将学到法律不仅仅是关于惩罚。它也赋予我们权利，比如受教育的权利和受到公平对待的权利。

2. Why Do We Need Law? | 我们为什么需要法律？

Laws exist to keep order and resolve conflicts peacefully. Imagine a football match without a referee – players would argue, and the game would break down. Law acts as society’s referee, making sure everyone plays by the same rules.

法律的存在是为了维持秩序并和平解决冲突。想象一场没有裁判的足球赛——球员们会争吵，比赛无法进行。法律就像社会的裁判，确保每个人都遵守相同的规则。

Another reason we need law is to protect our freedoms. For example, laws that protect free speech allow you to share your opinions without fear, as long as you do not harm others. At the same time, laws limit what people can do if their actions could hurt someone else.

我们需要法律的另一个原因是保护我们的自由。例如，保护言论自由的法律允许你分享观点而不必恐惧，只要你不伤害他人。同时，如果某些行为可能伤害别人，法律会限制这些行为。

Law also provides a way to solve disagreements. If two neighbours argue over a fence, they can go to court and have a judge decide based on the law, rather than fighting each other.

法律还提供了解决分歧的途径。如果两个邻居因篱笆发生争执，他们可以上法庭，由法官依据法律作出裁决，而不是互相争斗。

3. Rules vs Laws: Knowing the Difference | 规则与法律：了解区别

In Year 7, you will quickly learn to tell the difference between rules and laws. Rules are made by organisations like schools, families or clubs, and they only apply to the people in those groups. Laws are made by Parliament and apply to everyone in the country.

在七年级，你将很快学会区分规则与法律。规则由学校、家庭或俱乐部等组织制定，只适用于这些群体中的人。法律由议会制定，适用于国家的每一个人。

If you break a school rule, you might get a detention or a warning. If you break a law, you could be arrested, fined or sent to court. The consequences of breaking the law are much more serious and are enforced by the police and the courts.

如果你违反校规，你可能会被留堂或警告。如果你违法，你可能会被逮捕、罚款或被送上法庭。违法的后果要严重得多，并由警察和法院来执行。

Another key difference is that laws are written down and recorded in official documents. You can look up Acts of Parliament online, but a family’s rule about bedtime is just an agreement at home.

另一个关键区别是法律是写下来并记录在官方文件中的。你可以在网上查阅议会法案，但家庭关于就寝时间的规定只是一种家庭内部协议。

4. How are Laws Made? | 法律是如何制定的？

In the United Kingdom, most laws are made by Parliament, which is made up of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Monarch. The process of making a new law is called legislation, and a proposed law is called a bill.

在英国，大多数法律由议会制定，议会由下议院、上议院和君主组成。制定新法律的过程称为立法，提议中的法律称为“法案”。

A bill starts in either the House of Commons or the House of Lords. It is debated, amended and voted on several times. If both Houses agree on the final version, it is sent to the Monarch for Royal Assent. Once Royal Assent is given, the bill becomes an Act of Parliament and is now the law.

法案可以从下议院或上议院开始。它会经过多次辩论、修订和投票。如果两院都同意最终版本，它就会被送交君主御准。一旦获得御准，法案就成为议会法案，从此成为法律。

As a Year 7 student, you can follow a bill by looking at the UK Parliament website. This will help you see how laws are connected to real life, such as laws about the environment or online safety.

作为七年级学生，你可以通过浏览英国议会网站来追踪某项法案。这将帮助你看到法律与现实生活的关联，比如关于环境或网络安全的法律。

5. Key People in the Legal System | 法律体系中的关键人物

When you study law, you will come across several important roles. A judge is the person who makes decisions in court, making sure the trial is fair and the law is followed. Judges wear robes and sometimes wigs as a symbol of their authority and impartiality.

学习法律时，你会接触到几个重要角色。法官是在法庭上作出裁决的人，确保审判公平、法律得到遵守。法官穿长袍、有时戴假发，象征着他们的权威和公正无私。

Lawyers are divided into solicitors and barristers. Solicitors usually give legal advice, prepare documents and may represent clients in lower courts. Barristers specialise in presenting cases in higher courts and are often called to give expert opinions.

律师分为事务律师和出庭律师。事务律师通常提供法律建议、准备文件，并可能在较低级别的法院代表客户。出庭律师擅长在更高级别的法院陈述案件，并经常被请来提供专家意见。

The police have the job of keeping public order, preventing crime and investigating offences. They gather evidence and, if there is enough proof, can arrest someone and send the case to the Crown Prosecution Service, which decides whether to take it to court.

警察的职责是维护公共秩序、预防犯罪和调查违法行为。他们收集证据，如果有足够证据，可以逮捕某人，并将案件移交给皇家检察署，后者决定是否提起诉讼。

6. Criminal Law and Civil Law: A Simple Introduction | 刑法与民法：简单介绍

Law is often divided into two main branches: criminal law and civil law. Criminal law deals with behaviour that is harmful to society, such as theft, assault or murder. In a criminal case, the state prosecutes the defendant, and if found guilty, the punishment can be a fine, community service or prison.

法律通常分为两大分支：刑法和民法。刑法处理对社会有害的行为，如盗窃、袭击或谋杀。在刑事案件中，由国家起诉被告，如果被判有罪，惩罚可能是罚款、社区服务或监禁。

Civil law deals with disputes between individuals or organisations. Examples include arguments over contracts, divorce, or personal injury claims. If someone wins a civil case, the court usually orders the other side to pay compensation or to stop a certain action. There is no prison sentence in civil law.

民法处理个人或组织之间的纠纷。例子包括合同纠纷、离婚或人身伤害索赔。如果某人在民事案件中胜诉，法院通常会命令另一方支付赔偿或停止某种行为。民法中不涉及监禁刑罚。

In Year 7, you might role‑play a mini trial to see the difference. A criminal mock trial could be about shoplifting, while a civil one could be about a broken phone sold online. This helps you understand how each type of law works in real life.

在七年级，你可以模拟一次小审判来体会区别。刑事模拟法庭可以是关于入店行窃，而民事的可以是关于网上售出的损坏手机。这有助于你理解每种法律在现实生活中的运作方式。

7. The Presumption of Innocence and Fair Trial | 无罪推定与公正审判

A core principle of British law is that a person is ‘innocent until proven guilty’. This means the prosecution must provide enough evidence to convince the court that the defendant committed the crime. The defendant does not have to prove they are innocent.

英国法律的一项核心原则是“无罪推定”，即任何人在被证明有罪之前都是清白的。这意味着控方必须提供足够证据让法庭确信被告犯了罪。被告无需证明自己无辜。

The right to a fair trial is protected by law. A trial must be held in public, the defendant has the right to a lawyer, and the judge must be impartial. These safeguards prevent the state from treating people unfairly or punishing them without proper proof.

获得公正审判的权利受法律保护。审判必须公开进行，被告有权请律师，法官必须公正。这些保障措施防止国家不公平地对待人民或在没有充分证据的情况下惩罚他们。

In class, you can discuss why this principle matters. For example, if a rumour spread that someone stole a pencil case, would it be fair to punish them without hearing their side of the story? The presumption of innocence protects us from such unfairness.

在课堂上，你可以讨论为什么这项原则很重要。例如，如果有传言说某人偷了铅笔盒，在不听他们解释的情况下惩罚他们公平吗？无罪推定就保护我们免受这种不公。

8. Young People and Legal Responsibility | 青少年与法律责任

In England and Wales, the age of criminal responsibility is 10 years old. This means that children aged 10 or above can be arrested and taken to court if they commit a crime. Below that age, a child cannot be charged with a criminal offence, although other measures may be taken to help them and their family.

在英格兰和威尔士，刑事责任年龄为10岁。这意味着10岁及以上的儿童如果犯罪，可以被逮捕并送上法庭。在这个年龄以下，儿童不能被指控刑事犯罪，但可以采取其他措施来帮助孩子及其家庭。

There are special courts for young people called Youth Courts. These are less formal than adult courts, and the focus is often on helping the young person understand what they did wrong and giving them a chance to change. Sentences can include referral orders, fines (paid by parents) or youth detention in serious cases.

为年轻人设有专门的法庭，称为青少年法庭。这些法庭不如成人法庭正式，重点往往是帮助年轻人认识错误并给予他们改正的机会。判决可能包括转介令、罚款（由家长支付），或在严重案件中实行青少年拘留。

You will learn about the age of legal rights too. For instance, you can open a bank account in your own name at 11, but you cannot buy a pet or get a tattoo until you are 18. These laws recognise that young people are still developing and need some protection.

你还会学到法律权利年龄。例如，11岁可以自己名下开银行账户，但18岁前不能买宠物或纹身。这些法律承认年轻人仍在发育成长，需要一些保护。

9. How to Study Law in Year 7 | 如何在七年级学习法律

Studying law in Year 7 is not about memorising long Acts of Parliament. Instead, it is about learning to think logically, to ask questions about fairness, and to understand how society works. In your WJEC Citizenship lessons, you will use case studies, news stories and class discussions to explore legal ideas.

在七年级学习法律并不是要背诵长篇的议会法案。相反，它是学会逻辑思考，提出关于公平的问题，并理解社会是如何运作的。在你的 WJEC 公民教育课上，你将通过案例研究、新闻故事和课堂讨论来探索法律概念。

Good ways to learn include: keeping a vocabulary list of key terms like ‘defendant’, ‘prosecution’, ‘verdict’; drawing mind maps to link different parts of the legal system; and taking part in mock trials where you can play the role of a judge, lawyer or witness.

好的学习方法包括：制作关键词汇表，如“被告”“控方”“裁决”；绘制思维导图，将法律系统的不同部分联系起来；参加模拟法庭，你可以扮演法官、律师或证人的角色。

Reading age‑appropriate news websites, such as BBC Newsround, can also help you see law in action. When you come across a news article about a new law or a court case, ask yourself: Is this criminal or civil? Was the person treated fairly? This builds the habit of thinking like a lawyer.

阅读适合你年龄的新闻网站，如 BBC Newsround，也能帮助你看到法律的实际运作。当你读到一则关于新法律或法庭案件的新闻时，问问自己：这是刑事还是民事？这个人受到公平对待了吗？这能培养你像律师一样思考的习惯。

10. Transition Tips for New Learners | 给新学习者的衔接技巧

Moving from primary to secondary school can feel overwhelming, but law is a subject that encourages curiosity and respect for others. Here are a few tips to help you settle in:

从小学升入中学可能会感到不知所措，但法律这门学科鼓励好奇心和对他人尊重。以下是帮助你适应的几个技巧：

Tip | 技巧	Why it helps | 为什么有帮助
Ask ‘why?’ | 多问“为什么”	Law is built on reasons. Questioning helps you understand the purpose behind rules. | 法律建立在原因之上。提问帮助你理解规则背后的目的。
Link to real life | 联系现实生活	Notice laws around you – traffic lights, age ratings on games, school behaviour policies. They all have a legal backdrop. | 留意身边的法——红绿灯、游戏分级、学校行为规范。它们都有法律背景。
Practise debating | 练习辩论	Legal thinking involves seeing both sides. Respectful debate with classmates builds this skill. | 法律思维要求看到双方。与同学尊重地辩论能锻炼这项技能。
Use planners and deadlines | 使用计划本和截止日期	Law values organisation. Keep track of homework and revision to stay on top of the subject. | 法律看重条理性。记录作业与复习，维持学科领先。

Remember, you are not expected to know everything at once. Your teachers will guide you through the basics, and making mistakes is part of learning. By the end of Year 7, you will have a solid foundation in what law is and why it matters.

记住，没人指望你一下子什么都懂。你的老师会指导你掌握基础知识，犯错误也是学习的一部分。到七年级结束时，你将对法律是什么及其重要性有一个坚实的基础。

11. Where Law Can Lead You | 法律可以引领你走向何方

Even in Year 7, it is exciting to think about the future. Studying law opens doors to many careers, not just being a solicitor or barrister. You could become a police officer, a paralegal, a legal journalist, a politician, a human rights campaigner, or even work in business where understanding contracts is essential.

即便在七年级，畅想未来也令人兴奋。学习法律为许多职业打开了大门，不仅仅是成为事务律师或出庭律师。你可以成为警察、法务助理、法律记者、政治家、人权活动者，甚至在商业领域工作，因为理解合同至关重要。

Skills you develop in law lessons – critical thinking, clear communication, problem‑solving – are highly valued in all walks of life. Whether you end up in law or a completely different field, the ability to argue logically and understand rules is a superpower.

你在法律课上培养的技能——批判性思维、清晰沟通、解决问题——在各行各业都受到高度重视。无论你最终进入法律领域还是完全不同的行业，能够逻辑论证和理解规则都是一种超能力。

WJEC Citizenship at Key Stage 3 is your starting point. It builds a bridge to GCSE Law or Citizenship, then to A‑level Law, and eventually to university or apprenticeships. Every giant journey begins with the first step in Year 7.

KS3 阶段的 WJEC 公民教育是你的起点。它为你搭建通往 GCSE 法律或公民教育、接着到 A-level 法律，最终进入大学或学徒制的桥梁。每一段宏伟旅程都始于七年级的第一步。

Published by TutorHao | Law Revision Series | aleveler.com

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