Youth Summit 2026 - young people leading the way
Most youth events feel like a performance of "consultation". This Youth Summit felt different – it was a youth-led interruption of the status quo.
What stood out wasn't just the prestige of the speakers, from Green Party leader Zack Polanski to local changemakers like Dylan Law; it was the shift in energy. We weren't just a "demographic" in a report; we were the architects of the day.
Whether we were learning BSL to explore what true inclusion looks like or having vulnerable discussions about how our self-worth becomes wrapped up in academic grades, the day felt real. It was a rare space where honesty was not treated as disruption.
For many of us, education is something that happens to us - designed by adults based on "risk" rather than our lived reality.
Spaces like this are vital because they bridge that gap. We moved beyond polite nodding to tackle the heavy hitters: the National Youth Strategy, the proposed social media ban, and the urgent need for better inclusion for deaf children. Contributing to a National Inquiry on Votes at 16 with Peter Swallow MP wasn’t just "engagement" - it was recognition that our lived experience is a form of expertise the system urgently needs.
Stats from the day
99% of youth delegates said they met someone at the event they’d like to collaborate with to create a fairer education system
91% of attendees said they learnt something new that will help them bring about the change they want to see in education
88% reported developing skills to take on youth leadership roles
87% of young people said that the Youth Summit provided the opportunity to influence decision makers
The Fair Education Youth Summit wasn't just a one-day event - it was a launchpad.
Our goal now is to ensure the breakthrough conversations and moments of connection become the new standard for how education is shaped. We don’t want this momentum to sit on a shelf. We want the ideas sparked in workshops - from AI for good to social action - embedded into the heart of the system.
The message for everyone, from students to Ministers, is simple: when we work together, we don’t just identify problems; we design solutions. We’ve shown that we have the leadership, the ambition, and the skills to lead the way.
Now, we move forward with the shared belief that a fairer education system isn’t just a dream; it’s a project we are already building. The carnival band may have stopped playing, but the rhythm of change is louder than ever.
Warren
FEA Youth Steering Group member