MPE campaigns for stronger political and civic education in schools across the UK — so every young person leaves education ready to take part in democratic life.
More Political Education is a youth-led, non-partisan campaign working to ensure every young person in the UK understands how their democracy works — and how to take part in it with confidence.
What MPE is. We are a civic initiative made up of students, educators and volunteers who believe political education should not be left to chance. We work with schools, policymakers and local representatives to make political and civic literacy a consistent, high-quality part of the curriculum.
Why political literacy matters. Democracy depends on citizens who can understand institutions, evaluate information, and participate meaningfully. When young people leave school without this grounding, participation falls and trust erodes — not because people don't care, but because the system was never properly explained.
Why civic understanding is essential. A confident, informed electorate strengthens democracy for everyone. Civic education is not about telling young people what to think — it is about equipping them to think clearly, ask good questions, and reach their own conclusions.
Turnout and participation among young people remain persistently below the national average.
Young people increasingly get political information from feeds designed for engagement, not accuracy.
Many leave school unsure how Parliament, councils and elections actually function.
As voting rights extend to younger citizens, education must keep pace to make that right meaningful.
Practical, achievable changes to how political and civic education is delivered in UK schools.
Embed consistent, high-quality political literacy within PSHE and citizenship education so it reaches every pupil, not just a few.
Teach students how to identify misinformation, understand bias, and evaluate the sources behind the news they see.
Give young people a clear, accurate picture of how Parliament, devolved bodies and local government actually work.
Bring democracy to life through mock elections, structured debates and deliberation exercises in schools.
Help students understand the full range of ways to participate — voting, campaigning, contacting representatives and more.
Build the reasoning skills to weigh political claims and arguments thoughtfully, whatever their source.
Several changes are converging at once — and they make stronger civic education more urgent than ever.
Extending the franchise to younger citizens is a significant democratic step. It only works well if those citizens enter the electorate informed and prepared.
Confidence in democratic institutions has been falling. Clear, honest education about how those institutions work is part of rebuilding that trust.
Political information now spreads faster than ever, often without context or accuracy. Young people need the tools to navigate it confidently.
Democratic habits form early. Equipping young people now means a more engaged, more confident electorate for decades to come.
Whether you're a student, teacher, parent or supporter, there's a way for you to contribute to the campaign.
Tell us a little about yourself and how you'd like to get involved.
We're building a library of clear, non-partisan resources for students, teachers and anyone interested in civic education. Here's a preview of what's on the way — sign up to the newsletter to know when each one is published.
A plain-English walkthrough of the legislative process, from first reading to royal assent.
Practical questions to ask before you share — and how to trace a claim back to its source.
Our proposal for how consistent civic education could be delivered across key stages.
What the evidence tells us about participation, confidence and the civic education gap.
A step-by-step toolkit for teachers, with templates, timelines and discussion guides.
Founder Josh Dolan on the gap he saw in his own schooling — and why he decided to act.