what is the point?

The Guardian:

Plans to make schoolchildren take part in citizenship ceremonies and a new public holiday to celebrate “Britishness”, established by 2012, were announced today as part of wide-ranging proposals to strengthen British citizenship.

…

Lady Kennedy, a civil rights lawyer, told the programme that she groaned when she heard the proposals.

“I see this as an empty gesture. To ask 16-year-olds to troop into a hall and like Americans put their hands on their heart and take an oath of allegiance is risible.”

Quite.