London, 2nd March 2026

As the Representation of the People bill receives its second reading in Parliament this week, a landmark interim report by researchers at the University of Nottingham and London Metropolitan University reveals that while British 15-year-olds are eager to participate in democracy, they are being failed by a lack of formal political literacy education.

  • The report found that 61% of 14- and 15-year-olds intend to vote as soon as the franchise is lowered.

  • The researchers warn of a knowledge gap that could undermine the Bill’s success. More than a quarter (26%) of students feel they have “no real idea” of what political parties stand for, and many are confused by basic technicalities of the UK’s “First Past the Post” system.

  • 39% of respondents view voting as a privilege or duty, making it the single most common reason cited for choosing to vote.

  • Despite the Department for Education’s Guidance on Political Impartiality specifically allowing for discussion in school of political parties and their platforms, some students reported that their teachers had explicitly told them they were “forbidden to discuss political parties” with them. 

The purpose of the research project Young People’s Futures and Democratic Life is to generate and analyse young people’s perceptions, understanding and attitudes towards  democratic engagement and the prospect of becoming voters at the age of 16, with a view to providing evidence of the barriers and enablers to their future democratic engagement. The final report will be published in late 2026/early 2027, anticipating the first General Election in which newly enfranchised 16 and 17 year-olds will exercise their right to vote. 

Data is being collected over the academic year 2025-6 from young people aged 14 and 15. From 120 schools across all the English Regions, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.  The interim report is based on a limited evaluation, drawn from about 60% of data gathered to date from England, to provide evidence to Shout Out UK and the APPG on Political and Media Literacy, as the Representation of the People Act reaches its second reading in Parliament. The study has received full ethical approval and is  supported by The Electoral Commission. 

Further key findings include:

  • Educational Demand: Students overwhelmingly view schools and teachers as the most trusted sources for political information, yet many report that teachers feel “forbidden” from discussing party politics – a claim the researchers note is a misconception of DfE guidance.
  • Students identified that not every teacher is equally equipped to teach Political Literacy. They specifically suggested that teachers of Citizenship, English, History, or Religious Education might be better suited due to their existing skills in managing sensitive or non-partisan topics. 
  • The Gender Gap: Young men are significantly less likely to discuss politics with parents or teachers than young women, potentially leading to a disengaged demographic of future voters.
  • Voter ID Confusion: Despite the high stakes, many students are unaware of the strict photo ID requirements, with some believing a simple letter addressed to them would be enough to cast their vote. 

The report concludes that those who vote in their first eligible election are significantly more likely to remain voters for life. With the next General Election on the horizon, the research team, the APPG on Political Literacy and Shout Out UK urge Parliament to pass the Bill alongside a national strategy for classroom-based Political and Media Literacy education.

Dr. Christopher Pich, Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham and Project Co-Lead, said:

“Our findings show that lowering the voting age is only half the battle. This cohort is uniquely reachable because they are still in school and living at home. If we do not support the legal change with a concerted effort in political literacy, we risk a generation of voters who want to engage but feel too ‘ignorant’ to step into the polling station.”

 Matt Bishop MP, Co-Chair of the APPG on Political and Media Literacy added:

“This Bill is a historic opportunity. But as this interim report shows, we must empower teachers to move beyond the fear of ‘impartiality’ and provide the robust, non-partisan political education these young people are crying out for.”

Matteo Bergamini MBE, CEO and Founder of Shout Out UK said: 

“While extending the franchise is a historic step, this report proves that the vote is only half the battle; we must urgently pair it with a national strategy for Political Literacy education and investment in teacher training to ensure our newest voters have the critical skills to navigate our democracy and resist manipulation.”

The full report can be read here.

APPG political literacy votes at 16