25 March 2026 Young people lead the conversation at the Fair Education Youth Summit
Four students supported by The Talent Foundry attended this year’s Fair Education Youth Summit at the end of February, joining more than 180 young people from across the UK to discuss the future of education and the barriers many students face.
The summit brought together young people who have experienced challenges in education to share their perspectives and develop ideas for change, creating space for open conversations about inclusion, opportunity and the role young people can play in shaping education policy.
Feedback from across the summit reflected the value of bringing young people together to share ideas and develop leadership skills. According to organisers, 91% of attendees said they learned something new that would help them create change in education, while 88% reported developing skills to take on youth leadership roles. Nearly all delegates said they met someone they would like to collaborate with in the future.
Harnessing their leadership, ambition and skills enables young people to lead the way in designing solutions to educational challenges. A fairer education system is being built by the very people who are experiencing it and who best understand what it’s like to be a young person today.
Bringing together decision-makers and those fighting for a better future is what the Youth Summit was all about, and The Talent Foundry is proud to have supported four youth delegates to attend. For these young people, the event offered an opportunity to hear from influential voices and to connect with other young people who share a passion for improving education.
Hasnat, one of the student attendees, said the scale and collaborative atmosphere of the summit stood out.
It was a huge conference with over 200 students, so I managed to speak to and network with both speakers and university students like me. The sessions were mostly hands-on, and I especially enjoyed the public speaking and debating workshops, which involved us getting on our feet and actually doing it rather than just hearing about it.
He added that the event highlighted how important it is for young people to contribute to conversations about the education system.
It’s an important topic for young people, for us to be able to shape the future of education not only for ourselves but also for those who come after us.
Bianca, another student delegate, said the summit helped challenge her perspective on the power young people can have when their voices are heard.
A leading speech from Zack Polanski and Dylan Law at the Fair Education Youth Summit allowed me to reshape the way I viewed power as a young person. Surrounded by hundreds of young people, each with passion and strong convictions about addressing the challenges in our society, it became clear that socioeconomic background does not define success, nor does it define impact.
She highlighted the importance of ensuring young people from all backgrounds feel empowered to speak up.
For those who have felt the need to hide away, or have felt that their voice wasn't heard, we choose to hear you.
By supporting students to attend events such as the Fair Education Youth Summit, The Talent Foundry aims to ensure that young people from all backgrounds have the confidence, skills and opportunities to influence the systems that affect their lives.