About Us
At Political Education For Students (PEFS), we believe democracy is not a spectator sport. We equip young people from Year 5 to Year 13 with the knowledge, confidence, and critical skills to become politically active citizens.
The University of Glasgow's John Smith Youth Poll (2026) reports that only 16% of young people feel that their education provided them with the skills and knowledge necessary to do this.
As the UK introduces compulsory primary citizenship education and moves toward Votes at 16, there has never been a more important time to ensure students are fully prepared to participate effectively.
Society expects young people to vote and lead in civic life, yet many leave school without a structured political education. We bridge that gap. We are certain that a solid understanding of and engagement in politics equips students with crucial knowledge, as well academic and personal development skills that support all areas of the curriculum and prepare students for a world beyond school.
We build accessible, engaging and rich political education into school life through a number of educational formats. These include student workshops, resources, seminars, teacher training, an online community and various conferences and competitions.
We are strictly non-partisan. Our goal is never to tell young people what to think, but to give them the tools to form their own values. We help teachers facilitate complex political discussions with confidence, ensuring a safe space for every voice.
PEFS is led by James Nichols, a former Headteacher of an all-through school and teacher of Politics for nearly two decades. All members of the PEFS team are experienced practitioners in both politics and education.
