We drive change faster by advocating with a united voice for what we need to make the system fairer for children and young people. We create platforms for young people to lead change. Drawing on insights from across our membership, we shape policy, shift national conversations, and challenge the assumptions that keep educational inequity in place.
Policy and Influencing
We co-create evidence-based policy recommendations and develop a unified message for government – brought to life through our annual Report Card, open letters, and joint submissions.
By connecting policymakers with the lived experiences of young people and practitioners, we bridge the gap between national decision-making and local realities. This “magic middle” ensures equity is at the heart of local, regional and national government policy.
Our policy and influencing work includes:
Reports – including our annual Report Card, to track progress towards a fair education system.
Roundtables and events – connecting members, young people, and decision-makers at party conferences and regional visits.
Open letters and joint submissions – amplifying collective recommendations and demonstrating cross-sector support for action.
Open Letter to the Chancellor 2025 - Over 120 leading organisations in the education sector signed our open letter to the Chancellor to collectively advocate for children and young people from low-income households during the 2025 Government Spending Review process. Our shared vision for a fair education system can only be realised by stabilising school budgets, enhancing collaboration across services, and ensuring targeted funding reaches those who need it most at every stage of education.
Latest updates
Our 2025 Report Card
Since 2014, we have produced our annual Report Card, measuring progress towards the Fair Education Impact Goals, which track educational equity, from early childhood through to employment.
Every child and young person should have the chance to thrive in education, work, and life — no matter their background. Yet our latest Report Card shows the gap between children from low-income households and their peers remains wide at every stage of education and into employment.
Fair Education in 2025: England’s Report Card sets out where progress has been made, where urgent challenges remain, and what needs to happen next.
Shifting Mental Models
We work to shift mindsets so that education equity becomes a national priority. We understand that often inequities exist because of attitudes, beliefs and behaviours in our society that hold the problems in place. Through powerful storytelling and creative campaigns, we connect with the wider public on cultural and emotional levels to change the status quo – moving beyond policy alone.
Our work in this area includes:
Public campaigns – highlighting the barriers young people face and calling for systemic change.
Youth-led media – co-creating digital content and campaigns with young people to shape the national conversation.
Press and PR – sharing stories from across our membership to influence public opinion and build pressure for action.
By equipping members and young leaders with the tools and confidence to tell their stories, we build a shared narrative that challenges assumptions and drives public support for lasting change.
Our Wellbeing, Our Voice campaign - We are currently a lead partner on the Our Wellbeing, Our Voice campaign, which is calling on the Government to introduce a national young people’s wellbeing measurement programme throughout England, listening to young people’s voices to inform local and national action to improve their lives and ensure all young people have the opportunities they deserve.
16-19 Student Premium campaign - This campaign exists to extend funding for young people from low-income households: while education and training are mandatory to 18, targeted disadvantage funding ends at 16. This campaign is led by FEA member, Get Further.
