For the next UK general election, which will be held no later than 15th August 2029, 16 and 17-year-olds will be able to cast their vote. But recent statistics show that current teenage engagement with politics could be improved. According to The Electoral Commission’s report, Young Voices on Democracy 2025, ‘Only 34% of 15-17 year-olds are interested in UK politics, despite soon being able to vote’. Additionally, ‘Less than an a third of young people say they know a lot about what the UK Government does.’ However, there are positive signs. The Electoral Commission’s report also determined that, ‘About two-thirds think it’s important to learn more about UK politics. Nearly three-quarters believe politics should be taught more in schools or colleges. Although many young people get their political information from social media, they are more likely to trust the information they hear about politics at school or college.’ Thinking about these findings, alongside the recent change to include younger voters, we as educators can consider the impact we can make within our school settings. Let’s explore how secondary schools can support this change, and help prepare teenagers for participating in the democratic process. Encourage thorough research and investigation Within everyday classes and learning, focus on the importance of seeking out information. Making research and discovery part of classroom activities and projects is a good starting point in equipping pupils with the skills to investigate in all areas of life, including politics. Importantly, developing research capabilities is a cross-curricular skill – applicable to all areas of the secondary curriculum and useful for all subjects. Research isn’t just about producing a report or presentation: it’s about asking questions, collating details and being eager to discover, forging skills and practices which are valuable throughout secondary education and beyond. You may choose to base research projects around school subjects. However, taking a topical approach to research can be a productive exercise in supporting pupils to engage with timely events and issues. Whether about politics or political parties, research encompass news events, technological advancements such as AI, or issues affecting areas around the world. Support pupils to determine their thoughts As preparation for engaging in general elections and the political landscape, pupils can be encouraged to exercise self-reflection, as they learn to determine their thoughts and beliefs. Part of this focus within your secondary setting can be the development of confidence to elaborate on thoughts and think critically. From establishing and sharing a stance about a debate question in English, to developing a line of argument in Ethics classes, analysis of content and subsequent self-expression can be an effective preparatory tool for sharing thoughts about the wider world. Incorporate democratic processes – voting and having a say Learning about what democracy is, why it’s a part of society, and what it looks like in action is all important context for soon-to-be voters in knowing why we vote. To build familiarity and interaction with democratic processes, integrate the concept of ‘having a say’ within school life. Try whole-school approaches to empower pupils to speak up and take on roles in school decision making. From school councils, to prefect systems, classroom voting activities or year group projects which involve decision making and voting, adding context to why democracy is important can support pupils’ understanding. Within the classroom setting, across all subjects, open discussions can support the practice of having a say. Things like thought showers can help share a spectrum of opinions, along with post-its, whiteboards and display boards, to highlight insights from students on topics they’re engaging with. Cultivating understanding, empathy, action Interpersonal skills, like listening and empathy, are important attributes when getting to grips with democracy and voting. Within democratic society are an array of opinions and beliefs, so actively listening and respecting others despite differing opinions is an important foundation to lay for pupils. Alongside efforts to help pupils have a say within school life, encourage active citizenship. Knowing the importance of their voice and actions, and that they can make a difference, is a positive step in building pupils’ understanding of their place in the world ahead of being able to vote. For pupils, active citizenship and making a positive impact could also look like volunteering, working with their community, petitioning, protesting, or writing letters to influential people about something they care about or want to change. What does Picture News do? Encourages enquiry-based learning Our weekly resource packs centre on open questions and pupil-led discussions, as young people learn from the world around them by focusing on a current news story. With a focus on enquiry-based learning, pupils using Picture News resources are encouraged to ask questions and delve deeper into current issues and events. This practice can develop skills of investigation and analysis as young people engage with the world around them. Learning from the wider world Picture News resources focus on wide-ranging news stories, from shipwreck discoveries to driverless taxis, covering social, moral, political, cultural and religious topics. By supporting pupils to be aware of the news, they discover important issues and opinions with real-life context. This real-world engagement can set pupils in good stead as they continue to be active citizens and engage with the world whilst they move through school and prepare for adulthood. Weekly British values links Each week, Picture News resources link a current news story to a British value – Rule of Law, Democracy, Individual Liberty, and Mutual Respect and Tolerance. Gaining understanding of the British values and exploring real-life examples of the values in action can develop pupils’ understanding – including democracy. Sharing opinions freely and realising their voice matters As each Picture News resource is talk-based with open, philosophical questions linked to the news, pupils are encouraged to determine and share their opinions with others. Doing so opens up fruitful conversations, highlighting a range of views and experiences. Ultimately this shows pupils their voice matters, they can be heard, and they can listen respectfully to others. This can support pupils to develop important interpersonal skills, as they learn to interact with others with confidence. To discover more about Picture News Secondary, request a free sample resource here.
