Earlier this month the Confederation of Schools Trust held its first annual conference bringing together school trust leaders from across England to learn from each other, and to hear from government, policy makers and other influential figures.
The theme of this year’s conference was building – with a focus on building capacity, resilience, evidence and expertise.
On the first day of the conference, I was invited to deliver a keynote speech to tell delegates about what one million young people have told me over the last three years since I took up my role. It’s the story of England’s children since the pandemic.
To help tell the story of a million children, I invited some of my youth Ambassadors to join me on stage and tell the conference’s 1,400 delegates about their experiences; about what they think would make children’s lives better and specifically how we can support children and young people in education.
I have asked my Ambassadors to share why it was significant for them to speak at the conference – here is what they had to say:
Rylie: “Speaking at the conference was an invaluable opportunity to advocate for a more adaptable and relevant education system that truly meets the needs of young people today. By sharing insights from The Big Ambition survey, the Ambassadors were able to amplify the voices of young people, emphasising how essential it is to shape an education that equips every student with the skills and confidence they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. Listening to, and empowering, the next generation is key to creating a future-focused education system.”
Evie: “Having the opportunity to speak the Confederation of School Trusts Conference was a poignant moment for me; being given a platform to voice my opinions and share the results of The Big Ambition felt symbolic of something much bigger – a growing wave of respect and consideration for young people’s experiences and insights. As part of a generation that is increasingly disillusioned with politics, it felt like a powerful reclamation of agency.”
Aaliya: “Joining Dame Rachel on stage at such a large and important conference was a remarkable opportunity. I was able to advocate for a better, fairer education system for all young people across the country and articulate the need for the education system to teach children how to think, not what to think. I was able to emphasise the importance of inspiring curiosity in the minds of young people rather than schools to be a place where children are simply taught how to pass an exam. Education is one of the greatest tools we wield to change the world, and to see me and other young people become involved in discussions about education gave me a great sense of pride and hope that young people are finally being consulted on matters affecting their lives.”
Emmanuel: “I was thrilled to be part of the Children’s Commissioner event at the conference as one of her Youth Ambassadors where we discussed how the education system can evolve to help children succeed and thrive. I highlighted how my passion as her Youth Ambassador lies in ensuring that young people from deprived areas, especially those exposed to crime, are given equal opportunities to flourish. I believe every young person deserves access to resources and support that empowers them to succeed. By providing educational support, and community engagement initiatives we can help these individuals break the cycle of disadvantage. It’s crucial to create safe spaces where they can develop their skills, pursue their passions, and envision a brighter future.”
