VotesForSchools: An introduction to democracy

The VotesForSchools: An introduction to democracy programme is a collection of assemblies that covers the fundamentals of politics, voting, and democracy in the UK.

The programme aims to introduce learners to key aspects of the UK's political system and democratic processes and equip them with tools to understand how elections work, who is involved in running the country, the importance of secret voting, and the debate around votes at 16. By taking part in the programme, learners will reflect on their own opinions about political issues and discuss UK democracy with their classmates. They will also familiarise themselves with key democratic principles and institutions and set the foundations for a more effective engagement with conversations about politics.

The programme consists of the following five sessions:

• Party conferences
• People in Parliament
• Preparing to vote
• Secret voting
• Votes at 16

Each session is designed to be delivered as a standalone assembly or as part of a broader introduction to democracy series.