Young People’s Media Literacy

Baroness Butler-Sloss Excerpts

Thursday 22nd May 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend and absolutely agree: high-quality teaching will make such a difference in this particular area. This is why the Government are committed to recruiting 6,500 new expert teachers, especially into shortage subjects, and this can fall into this area. What we understand is that teachers are desperate for high-quality resources and materials, and to make sure that the new quality requirement since last year really focuses on helping and supporting curriculum mentoring, partnerships and bringing people in from outside to help teachers. This is a fast-moving area and I have every sympathy with teachers who are doing their very best to keep up to speed with all the changes that are happening.

[Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB)]

My Lords, I will pick that up. As a governor, I have listened to very good and very poor teaching and, having heard the Youth Parliament, I note that its point about not being engaged seems to be a crucial part of looking at how to teach.

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

This is a subject very dear to my heart. The Youth Parliament has a lot to say, but that goes back into all the schools and school councils that contribute to that process. If we do not take account of young people’s voices, we will not make progress. The response to the “Adolescence” programme is that so many people do not understand the language that is being used. We need young people to work with us, especially those who have had poor experience, so that they can help us to move forward in this area.