What Citizenship Education Really Does for Democracy: Insights from New National Research
New national research shows how GCSE Citizenship boosts trust in democracy, especially among underrepresented young people
New findings launched at ACT’s live event show the powerful impact of GCSE Citizenship on political confidence, trust and engagement among young people.
On 17 June, ACT hosted a timely and insightful online event, Young People, Citizenship and Democracy Education: What the Evidence Tells Us, bringing together educators, policymakers and researchers to explore how GCSE Citizenship Studies is helping to strengthen democracy and support inclusive political engagement among young people.
Headline Findings from the Research
At the heart of the session was the launch of a new national research report by Professor Matt Henn, Professor James Sloam, and Dr Ana Nunes, based on data from nearly 900 young people across England.
The study revealed that GCSE Citizenship:
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Increases students’ interest in politics and voting
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Builds confidence and trust in democratic institutions
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Has the greatest impact on young women, racialised minority groups, and students from lower socio-economic backgrounds
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Helps students develop resilience to misinformation and strong critical thinking skills
The research points us towards the need for schools, policymakers, and decision-makers at the highest level to recognise the importance of actively promoting GCSE Citizenship Studies, because it offers an opportunity for young people who might not otherwise have had the chance, to engage with these issues at a deeper level.
Professor Matt Henn
Emeritus Professor of Social Research, Nottingham Trent University
A Timely Conversation
With growing momentum around Votes at 16 and the ongoing Curriculum and Assessment Review, the event highlighted the urgent need to ensure that Citizenship education is recognised as a core entitlement in every school.
Not only in the UK, but around the world, there are some severe challenges for democracy and education. Only 40% of 18-24 year-olds voted in the 2024 General Election, and only 20% of those were from lower socio-economic groups.
Professor James Sloam
Professor of Politics, Royal Holloway University
The discussion also raised important questions about access, curriculum design and how schools can be supported to deliver high-quality political education consistently.
Audience Reflections and Questions
Teachers, civil servants and academics who attended the live webinar took part in a lively Q&A session following the presentation.
It is important to consider the impact of contact with politicians on young people's trust in democracy, and how politicians' approaches to engaging with them shape their experiences. Contact between young people and politicians is very low in the UK compared to other countries and my politics students who have met an MP are about 50/50 in whether it was a positive experience.
Webinar participant
The conversation reinforced the message that young people are ready—and eager—to engage with complex political issues and local decision making when given the tools and space to do so in a meaningful way.
Access the Full Report
The full research report, Young people and citizenship education: The impact of studying GCSE Citizenship Studies on young people’s democratic engagement and participation, is now available to download.
