ACT Gives Evidence in Parliament on the Role of Education in Protecting Democracy
On 4 June 2025, ACT Chief Executive Liz Moorse gave oral evidence to the Speaker’s Conference on the Security of Candidates, MPs, and Elections.
On 4 June 2025, ACT Chief Executive Liz Moorse gave powerful oral evidence to the Speaker’s Conference on the Security of Candidates, MPs, and Elections, highlighting the essential role of Citizenship education in safeguarding democratic values and promoting civic trust.
The inquiry—convened to address growing concerns about abuse and threats towards politicians and the health of UK democracy—heard from a range of expert witnesses, including Professor Helen Fenwick (Durham University), Professor Karthik Ramanna (University of Oxford), and Elisabeth Costa (Behavioural Insights Team). Earlier in the day, contributions were made by David Hughes, Chair of the Parliamentary Lobby Correspondents, and Anushka Asthana, Chair of the Parliamentary Press Gallery.
“Education is critical to rebuilding democratic trust”
In her evidence, Liz reflected on both historical and present-day threats to democratic life—from political apathy to the influence of conspiracy theories and extremist subcultures. She warned of the risk of disconnection between young people and political institutions, stating:
If we don’t provide safe spaces in our schools... where are they going to have the opportunity to understand what being a member of a democratic society means?
She urged Parliament to support a national commitment to high-quality Citizenship education—grounded in human rights, the rule of law, and democratic participation—as a way to build resilience, combat misinformation, and give all students the knowledge and skills they need to engage critically and respectfully.
The need for a refreshed, statutory Citizenship curriculum
Liz argued that the current national curriculum framework is not fit for purpose, with only 14 required elements across years of secondary education. In comparison, core subjects such as maths have hundreds of specific learning objectives. She emphasised that a reformed, fully statutory Citizenship curriculum—starting from primary and continuing to post-16—should be a central part of the response to democratic threats, particularly if the voting age is lowered:
We shouldn’t have one without the other... There’s a danger that lowering the voting age could happen without a call for strong, good-quality Citizenship education as an entitlement for every pupil in this country
Promoting deliberation and complexity in the classroom
Liz also made the case for a more deliberative model of education—where students engage in structured discussions, examine evidence, and build reasoned conclusions through dialogue:
We sometimes underestimate young people’s ability to understand and handle complexity... They need opportunities to deliberate, analyse and make connections between the ideas and issues that shape society.
During the discussion Liz spoke of ACT’s latest guidance resource, The Deliberative Classroom, which supports teachers in delivering knowledge-based, issue-led discussions on challenging contemporary topics.
Explore The Deliberative Classroom: Teaching Deliberation – Guidance for Teachers
A call to action for Parliament
Closing her evidence, Liz highlighted the importance of MPs and peers working with schools to support high-quality democratic education:
We need to invest in teacher training. We need specialist teachers who can lead deliberative practices—who are skilled in bringing together different perspectives and enabling knowledge-informed, critical discussions in classrooms.
ACT continues to advocate for Citizenship education as a core part of a safe, inclusive, and resilient democracy—not a luxury, but a right for every pupil, regardless of background or circumstance.
Upcoming Event: Join the Debate on Citizenship and Democracy
ACT will host a free online webinar:
Young People, Citizenship and Democracy Education: What the Evidence Tells Us
Featuring new national research by Professors Matt Henn, James Sloam and Dr Ana Nunes on how GCSE Citizenship boosts political understanding and engagement.
