Youth Select Committee

Youth Select Committee 2013

This body gives young people the opportunity to scrutinise public issues and hold inquiries into topics most relevant to them.


Curriculum for Life

Mr Speaker and Robert Rogers join Chair and Vice Chair of Youth Select Committee 201 

This year the Youth Select Committee embarked on a new inquiry into the role of the education system and the national curriculum in equipping young people with the skills for later life. The inquiry has looked at the support currently available in schools to develop young people's 'life skills' such as personal finance, political education and cultural awareness.

The Youth Select Committee was launched by the British Youth Council (BYC) and supported by the House of Commons. It mirrors the UK Parliament Select Committee structure and gives young people the chance to scrutinise issues and hold inquiries on public matters they find important.

Is made up of 11 young people aged 18 and under, and includes both elected and reserved seats to ensure a broad representation of interests from all parts of the UK.  

The Youth Select Committee has received induction training and mentoring from Parliamentary Clerks and British Youth Council staff.

 

Terms of reference: Curriculum for Life

A Curriculum for Life was identified as a priority by the UK Youth Parliament in 2012. The inquiry seeks to investigate:

  • The responsibility of the education system to equip young people with 'life skills' such as political education, personal finance and cultural awareness.
  • The current state of 'life skills' provision in schools.
  • The support currently available for teachers to deliver lessons and programmes on life skills.
  • Whether the school education system gets the balance right between academia and 'life skills'.
  • Whether the teaching of 'life skills' should lie within core subjects or as a separate part of the curriculum?
  • How much involvement young people have in shaping the Personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) and citizenship curriculum.
  • How PSHE and citizenship teaching is implemented differently in schools.
  • What the UK government can learn from others about the teaching of "life skills" to young people.

The Committee's oral evidence sessions were held in the Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House on Friday 28th June and Friday 5th July.

Proceedings can be watched online:

Friday 28th June morning session & afternoon session

Friday 5th July  

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