The concept of patriotism (as opposed to National Identity) has received little attention in the literature and discourse surrounding education for citizenship in English schools. In seeking to address this gap, a case is made here in favour of the teaching and promotion of patriotic attachment based on the substantive notion of 'civic patriotism'. As such, an attempt is made to counter the suggestion that teaching for patriotism is outside of the legitimate aims of education and education for citizenship. Attention is also given to fruitful areas of deliberation regarding the curricular content and processes through which this form of patriotism might be taught.