How does the voting work at VotesforSchools?

Every week, thousands of young people across the UK and beyond take part in meaningful conversations about the world around them and cast their votes on the issues that matter most. But how does it all actually work?

At VotesforSchools, we’re passionate about making student voice not just heard, but truly understood and acted on. From carefully crafted questions and age-appropriate lessons to our unique voting system and impactful data reports, every part of our process is designed to empower young people aged 5–18 to speak up and see the difference their voices can make.

In this blog, we’re breaking down exactly how the VotesforSchools journey works, from the classroom conversation to real-world impact. Let’s take a closer look.

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The Question

It all starts with a question. Each week, we put forward a yes/no question for young people to consider. These questions are designed to challenge assumptions and encourage discussion, often tackling timely and relevant topics such as climate change, mental health, misogyny, careers, vaping, and more.

We don’t ask questions with obvious answers. Instead, we aim to prompt deeper thinking - for example, “Do we understand the difference between appropriation and appreciation?” or “Should online anonymity be protected?” The goal is to get young people thinking, not just ticking a box.

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The Lesson

VotesforSchools isn’t a polling service - we don’t want snap judgments. What we do want is informed, thoughtful, and age-appropriate responses from young people aged 5-18. That’s why each question comes with a set of differentiated lessons for different key stages (KS1, KS2, Secondary & Colleges.

Each group explores the same overarching topic, but in ways that are accessible and relevant to their age. So, while older students might explore the pros and cons of online anonymity, KS1 might discuss whether it’s okay to use your real name on the internet.

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The Vote

We collect up to 72,000 votes each week from young people across the UK and beyond.

Our easy-to-use platform allows teachers to input their class’s votes and select the year group and gender breakdown: male, female, and diverse. This gives us a detailed view of how opinions vary across ages, genders, schools, and locations - and offers a unique insight into what young people really think.

Learn different ways classes can vote

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The Breakdown

Here’s where it gets exciting: with thousands of votes pouring in, schools get to see the breakdown of their school's votes and how they compare across their region and nationally.

Our Data Manager, Mel, then dives into the numbers to find out what young people across the country think. She compiles a report each week, highlighting trends, key differences, and striking opinions - a summary showing young people views on issues that affect them.

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Being Heard

Our mission is simple: amplify student voice.

That’s why we don’t stop at collecting votes - we pass on young peoples' thoughts on to charities, campaigners, policymakers, and more. And they listen. We regularly receive responses and feedback from these organisations, which we pass back to our schools - closing the loop and showing young people the real impact their voices can have.