Young people’s calls for education reform

Our group of Young Advisors have been working with us on the challenges young people face in education and share their learning in a film launched today.

As part of the research, Young Advisors visited schools, gathering insights on topics such as access to education, teacher shortages and how well children’s rights are understood in schools.

They used participative methods to help children express their views, such as mapping out their dream school, rating school environments with emoji-based feedback, and chalk drawings in playgrounds. One of the key findings of the research was the benefit of involving young people directly in shaping education policy.

Reflecting on why being a young person helped when gathering the views of children, Young Advisor, Coco, age 13, said:

“Especially when you’re talking to adults, I think your view can be changed, because it might be scary, especially if you’re talking to someone that you know has an important role in the decisions that end up being made about your life. It can be a bit more daunting. But if you’re talking to someone like me, you can get more of a chance to speak freely, and you might think that they understand you a bit more.”

In the film, Young Advisor, Robert, age 16, shared why young people must be involved in education reform.:. Robert said: “It’s important to include young people in the decisions, because it’s based around them. It’s about the young people.”

Echoing the views of the Young Advisors and the pupils they have been meeting, the Commissioner Nicola said:

“All children have the right to have an education that develops their personality, talents and abilities to their fullest potential, but sadly that it not happening for every child in Scotland.

“It is important for me to go out to schools, and to continue to go out to schools because there is a lot of change happening and children and young people need to be at the centre of that. They have to have a voice, they have to have part of those discussions, and they have to influence change.”

The film aims to encourage policymakers to involve children and young people in meaningful ways, ensuring that their experiences and ideas lead to much-needed reform of Scotland’s education system. Children have told the Commissioner that they are not being meaningfully included in decision-making in education.

The research with the Young Advisors is just one strand of the office’s work into educational reform. Targeted work is underway with groups of children and young people whose rights are more at risk, and who experience challenges with engaging in mainstream education.

The office will also be launching an recommendations report into education soon, as well as sharing the first in a series of good examples of where there is effective practice that delivers for children.

📽️ Watch the video to hear directly from young people and why their voices must be at the heart of decision-making.