Calling all teachers and youth workers: help young people to have their say on education

The Youth Shadow Panel is inviting children and young people across England to share their views on their experience of school or college. This is an opportunity for students to voice their opinions about what’s working, what isn’t, and how the national curriculum and assessment could be improved.

The Youth Shadow Panel is made up of 12 young people in England who are passionate about ensuring youth voice is central to the shaping of future education.

They represent the youth-led Shadow Curriculum and Assessment Review which was set up by a group of leading youth organisations, united by a determination to support the inclusion of children and youth perspectives in the government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review.

The government’s Review will lead to changes about what is taught in schools and colleges and how students/pupils are assessed.

Teachers can encourage their students to share their thoughts by completing a short, accessible survey or submitting creative responses like pictures, videos, or writing. Teachers and youth workers can also submit views on behalf of groups.

How can teachers and youth workers support?

Share the survey: Share the short, accessible survey with students and set time in the day for them to complete it, giving them guidance on the questions as needed.

Support creative submissions: Students can share their views through pictures, videos, voice notes, creative writing, or art. These can be uploaded directly in the survey or shared on social media using the hashtag #shadowCAR or sent to @youthshadowpanel on Instagram.

Submit group views: Discuss the questions as a group and submit collective feedback on their behalf.

Use the lesson plan and PowerPoint template linked in the plan to run a session on gathering views.

What young people submit via the Youth Shadow Panel’s survey or social media will contribute to the Youth Shadow Panel discussions and shape their recommendations to be shared with the government review. Find out more by clicking here.

Key details

Views can be submitted until 12 January 2025.

Complete the survey and find out more here.

Social media: Encourage students/pupils to use #shadowCAR if posting on social media or send creative submissions to @youthshadowpanel on Instagram.