Overview:
This set of assemblies in the project ‘Our Generation Our Vote’, has been produced to provide young people from secondary school age, up to age 17, with the knowledge and skills they need to engage with a General Election. The teaching time once an election is called can be short especially if this overlaps with a school holiday therefore this introductory unit offers the opportunity for schools to introduce students to the core knowledge and concepts they will
need to successfully teach about a general election.
Curriculum links:
Taking part in the ‘Our Generation. Our Vote’ project will support schools to deliver a range of key curriculum areas, including Citizenship, PSHE, SMSC (particularly the promotion of fundamental British values) in England and Health and Well-Being and Humanities in Wales. Taking part will also support with children and young people’s personal development; one of the four key judgements for Ofsted inspections in England and a key part of the inspection area ‘care, support and guidance’ for Estyn in Wales.
Time commitment:
We understand that schools will have varying amounts of time to devote to the ‘Our
Generation Our Vote’ project therefore we have produced a range of options you may wish to
follow:
➯ A form time discussion route - short informative and discursive sessions to be lead by form tutors
➯ An assembly route - Knowledge based assemblies with guidance notes that can be
delivered by a range of staff members
➯ Full lessons route - A range of lesson materials created by experienced providers which answer all of the key questions laid out below. Most are accompanied by full teacher
guidance. There is a Welsh language option for this resource route.
We recommended that teachers look at the range of resources and decide which is suitable for their cohorts. There is the opportunity to mix and match between these routes if this is the best way forward for your setting and cohort. There is no fixed way of delivering ‘Our Generation our Vote’ however we do recommend that all of the key questions are covered.
Key Learning questions/topics covered in these sessions:
➯ Who has the power to make political decisions over England and Wales?
➯ What is Parliament?
➯ What is a general election?
➯ What does an MP do?
➯ Welcome to the general election 2024
➯ Who are your candidates and what are their priorities?
➯ Exploring manifestos and casting your vote!
➯ Analysing the results
This pack has been designed by the Association for Citizenship Teaching (ACT), with an additional session by The Politics Project to cover the topic of candidates, to help you prepare students for engaging with the upcoming general election. It consists of five assemblies that can support the lessons we have produced or be used as an alternative to them for schools who have limited time to introduce these ideas. The assemblies will allow students to understand key knowledge which will help them engage with this important event for the UKʼs democracy. The content has been developed so anybody regardless of their background can lead these assemblies.
Please note, teachers do not need to deliver all the resources; they should pick and choose those that are most appropriate for their learners and the time they have available.
Welcome to Our Generation Our Vote!
These sessions introduce learners to what Our Generation Our Vote is and gets them energised to participate in the project, alongside thousands of other young people across England and Wales.
This session introduces young people to elections.
This session supports young people through the registering to vote process.
This session introduces young people to national government.
This session supports young people to research and learn about the candidates they can vote for.
A series of 10/15 minute sessions that are designed to be delivered to secondary school students and learners in form time in the run up to the general election on 4th July.
This presentation collects together all session for the programme. This is the Welsh language version.
This session introduces learners of all ages to the results of Our Generation. Our Vote. and supports them to start to analyse these. Learners then compare the results of Our Generation. Our Vote. to the results of the 2024 General Election and start to think about how the winning government and their elected MP might have an impact on their lives and community. Please see the facilitator notes on each slide for more detail and delivery guidance. ​
This session should take approximately 30 to 50 minutes, depending on the uptake of, and time given to, the discussion activities and whether you look at the results in more detail with your group via the Our Generation. Our Vote. results page, or just use the information on the slides.​
On some of the slides, there are additional questions or more detail aimed at older groups of young people, these are indicated by an orange box. Please use/remove as appropriate for the age and needs of your group.​
From the new academic year, Our Generation. Our Vote. will share additional resources and opportunities for young people to continue with democratic education and getting their voices heard in their communities and with their elected MP.