Lowering the voting age to 16 is a powerful invitation for young people to shape their future. Schools must respond with a robust, inclusive, and forward-thinking approach to democracy education—one that not only informs but inspires. Our democracy and civic engagement workshops and courses equip students with the knowledge, skills, and critical awareness needed to navigate democratic structures, understand electoral processes, and resist misinformation in the digital age.

Why are Democracy and Civic Engagement Workshops essential for schools?

In July 2025, the UK Government announced a transformative change: lowering the voting age to 16 for all UK elections. This bold step not only expands the electorate but also redefines the role of schools in preparing young people to participate meaningfully in democratic life. With thousands of teenagers now eligible to vote, education must go beyond the basics—embedding political literacy, civic responsibility, and critical thinking across the curriculum.

The Department for Education’s guidance for Citizenship and RSHE already highlights the importance of teaching pupils about democracy, government, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. But in today’s fast-moving political landscape, students also need to understand the differences between local, national, and devolved elections; the roles of MPs, councillors, and mayors; and how democratic structures shape decision-making. This foundational knowledge empowers young people to make informed choices and engage with political issues that affect their lives—from climate policy to education funding.

Equally vital is the ability to think critically and navigate the digital world with discernment. Social media and online platforms are powerful tools for civic engagement—but they’re also breeding grounds for misinformation, echo chambers, and manipulation. Schools must help students develop media literacy, evaluate sources, and challenge false narratives. By fostering respectful debate and evidence-based reasoning, educators can cultivate a generation of voters who are not only informed, but resilient against disinformation.

Democracy education is not just about casting a ballot—it’s about cultivating agency, empathy, and lifelong civic engagement. As the England joins Scotland and Wales in enfranchising 16-year-olds, schools must ensure that every young voter not only understands, but is empowered.

Our Workshop Aims

Example Workshop Plan

I. Understanding Elections & Democratic Structures

• Election Explorer Stations: using infographics, ballot samples, and role cards.

• Democracy Mapping: Students create visual maps of how decisions are made in the UK—linking Parliament, councils, devolved governments, and the judiciary.

II. Critical Thinking & Media Literacy

• Fact or Fake? Challenge: Teams analyse social media posts, headlines, and memes to spot misinformation, bias, and manipulation, using real-world examples and source-checking tools.

• Echo Chamber Simulation: A guided activity demonstrating how algorithms shape online content, followed by reflection on how views are reinforced or challenged digitally.

• Ensure all students understand the structure and function of UK democratic institutions, including Parliament, local councils, devolved governments, and the judiciary. Provide clear, age-appropriate education on different types of elections (local, general, devolved, mayoral) and how voting systems work.

• Develop students’ critical thinking and media literacy to identify bias, misinformation, and manipulation—especially online.

• Foster active citizenship through participatory learning, including supporting mock elections, student councils, and issue-based campaigns.

• Promote inclusive dialogue and respectful debate on political and social issues, aligned with safeguarding and PSHE principles.

Each workshop will be tailored to Key Stage 3, 4 and 5 students and delivered by trained facilitators.

III. Active Citizenship & Participation

• Mock Election or Referendum: Students form parties, write manifestos, campaign, and vote. Include roles like election officers, media teams, and observers.

• Civic Action Planning: Groups identify a local issue, research stakeholders, and design an advocacy campaign or petition.

IV. Digital Democracy & Online Engagement

• Digital Dialogue Roleplay: Simulate online forums or comment threads, practising responses to disagreement, misinformation, and trolling with empathy and facts.

• Create-a-Campaign: Design a social media campaign around a civic issue, including hashtags, visuals, and calls to action, and reflect on reach vs. responsibility.