We welcome the government’s announcement today that media literacy will be added to the national curriculum. As the spread of mis and disinformation accelerates, The Guardian Foundation has been supporting young people aged 7-18 develop the critical thinking skills to navigate today’s complex information landscape; turning classrooms into newsrooms and empowering the next generation to spot false information and identify quality journalism. Adding media literacy to the curriculum is a move The Guardian Foundation has long championed.
The success of this change will depend on the support teachers receive to deliver it effectively. Media literacy demands specialist knowledge and confidence, particularly as the media landscape and technology continue to evolve.
With the changes not due to take effect until 2028, we need urgent action now to ensure children and young people have the skills they need to navigate misinformation and disinformation today.
Esmat Jeraj, Executive director (interim), said:
“Disinformation is one of the defining challenges of our time. Equipping young people with the knowledge and skills to navigate an increasingly complex information landscape is of vital importance. We welcome the government’s announcement and are encouraged to see many of the priorities set out in our submission to the curriculum review reflected in its plans. However, with these changes not set to take effect until 2028, there is an urgent need for action today. The Guardian Foundation remains committed to supporting schools, teachers and families through our workshops, training and resources to help build the critical thinking and media literacy skills children and young people need today.”
Elli Narewska, Head of news and media literacy, said:
“Putting media literacy on the curriculum is a vital and timely response to the growing threat of disinformation. We know from our work that when children and young people learn to question information, analyse sources and create their own media, they become more confident, engaged and informed citizens. Distorted information is infiltrating every part of children’s lives, from unrealistic beauty standards to critical health advice about medicine and vaccines. Misleading content can even normalise and fuel misogyny, climate change denial, and racism. Ensuring that every child leaves school with the skills to think critically about what they read, watch and share is one of the most important steps we can take to tackle this.
Now, the key to success is to make sure teachers and schools are properly supported and ensure media literacy does not become an additional burden on already stretched educators. Teachers must be provided with the time, training and resources to build their knowledge and confidence, so that they can create immersive, engaging media literacy learning experiences”
We will be further reviewing the government's response to the curriculum review and sharing more in due course.
About us
The Guardian Foundation is a global charity dedicated to promoting press freedom, media literacy and access to quality liberal journalism. Our team of education experts have worked with over 180,000 young people over the past two decades. Through our NewsWise and Behind the Headlines programmes, children aged 7-18+ develop curiosity and critical engagement with media and build resilience to misinformation.
The Foundation has long campaigned for these skills to be taught as part of the curriculum, submitting evidence to the review and giving oral evidence to the House of Lords media literacy inquiry.
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