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Weekly Resources

Weekly VoteTopics

Fresh discussions about the issues shaping young people's lives.

Every week, VotesforSchools publishes a brand-new VoteTopic based on current affairs, awareness days and the issues pupils are already talking about. Each VoteTopic is designed to help pupils understand the world around them through balanced discussion, critical thinking and pupil voice.

Every VoteTopic includes everything you need to deliver a meaningful lesson, from editable PowerPoints and assemblies to in-platform curriculum mapping and whole-class voting.

Every VoteTopic starts with one question

No VoteTopic begins with a worksheet or a list of objectives.

It begins with a carefully chosen question.

Questions are designed to encourage curiosity, discussion and critical thinking rather than simple right or wrong answers. Before pupils vote, they explore the issue, hear different perspectives and develop the knowledge they need to form an informed opinion.

Chosen for the world pupils are living in

We don't begin by asking, "Which curriculum objective should we teach this week?"

We begin by asking:

"What should young people be discussing right now?"

Our Education Team selects topics from:

  • current affairs
  • awareness days
  • teacher suggestions
  • pupil suggestions

By starting with what's happening now, every VoteTopic feels relevant, timely and meaningful before it's carefully mapped back to the curriculum.

Carefully researched and balanced

Every VoteTopic is researched before it's published.

Our Education Team explores different viewpoints, uses trusted sources and, where appropriate, works with external organisations and subject specialists to ensure lessons are balanced, accurate and age-appropriate.

The aim is never to tell pupils what to think.

It's to help them think critically, consider different perspectives and reach their own informed conclusions.

More than a lesson

One VoteTopic becomes a complete package of teaching resources.

Every week, schools receive:

  • Editable lesson PowerPoint
  • Editable assembly PowerPoint
  • Discussion activities
  • Challenge activities
  • Whole-class voting
  • National voting results
  • In-plaform curriculum mapping

PLUS termly curriculum guides

Everything is designed to work together, saving teachers time while creating meaningful classroom discussion.

One VoteTopic, multiple curriculum links

Although every VoteTopic begins with a real-life issue, every lesson is carefully mapped across the curriculum.

Depending on the topic, VoteTopics can contribute to:

  • PSHE
  • RSHE
  • Citizenship
  • British Values
  • SMSC
  • Prevent
  • Curriculum for Wales
  • UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
  • UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Personal Development

That means schools can respond to what's happening in the world while continuing to deliver a planned, evidence-based curriculum.