National Youth Strategy
Debate between Baroness D'Souza and Baroness Twycross
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
The noble Lord makes a really interesting point, and I would be very happy to discuss it further with him next time we meet.
Baroness D'Souza (CB)
My Lords, I too very much welcome the Government’s plan to develop a national youth strategy. Does the Minister agree that a major element of such a strategy should be a holistic and consistent approach to citizenship, with a standard curriculum that focuses on interactive and immersive learning? Furthermore, given that the National Citizen Service no longer exists, does she agree that citizenship education would be best located in all primary and secondary schools?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
The noble Baroness makes a really valuable point about the role of citizenship. It is essential that pupils develop an understanding of their place in a democratic society so that they can become responsible citizens in modern Britain. As noble Lords will be aware, the DfE has launched an independent curriculum and assessment review, which will look at exactly the type of issues the noble Baroness raises.
Young People: Government Policy
Debate between Baroness D'Souza and Baroness Twycross
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
Absolutely, and one of the things that was striking from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award survey was that two-thirds of the young people surveyed were politically active but only 40% were likely to vote in a general election. For me that was really telling. Young people are engaged and we need to use every mechanism to make sure that they see their political activity reflected in the type of politics we engage with in your Lordships’ House and in the other place. I will speak to the Minister of State in the Department for Education about this, but I am confident that the curriculum review will allow for a proper assessment of what is required for future education in this space.
Baroness D'Souza (CB)
My Lords, does the Minister agree that one of the main conclusions of the excellent Youth Voices report is the failure to reach young people? And does she further agree that one way of encouraging participation would be to have mandatory and tailor-made citizenship classes at both primary and secondary level?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
The noble Baroness correctly identifies that schools are the place in which we can reach children most systematically. I will feed that back to the Minister of State. I had understood that citizenship did run through the curriculum, but I stand to be corrected and I will pick that up with my noble friend.