Jean Seaton publishes article in The Political Quarterly on need for political and critical education

Following a recent curriculum review and a House of Lords investigation into media literacy, concern has risen over young people’s ability to think critically in an era of misinformation and media saturation. In a recent article for The Political Quarterly, Prof. Jean Seaton and Sam Taylor Hill, Programme Manager of the Orwell Youth Prize, made outlined their thoughts on the current condition of political literacy and expression among the next generation.

They argue that our education system has become too focused on rote learning and standardised testing, leaving little room for open-ended thinking, argumentation, and political literacy. Critical thinking and oracy—skills that allow students to articulate ideas, reason through complexity, and engage in civic life—are increasingly viewed not just as academic assets, but as essential tools for democratic participation and national resilience. Reports such as We Need to Talk and even warnings from defence bodies like RUSI highlight how a lack of these skills makes the public vulnerable to manipulation.

Seaton and Hill express that the decline in arts and humanities education, where evaluation of different perspectives is central, further worsens this gap.  Programmes like the Orwell Youth Prize are stepping in to fill the void by encouraging students to write about social and political issues with creativity and rigour, helping them find their voice and make real-world impact.

Read the full article here.

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