Authors

Simon Lightman

Simon Lightman is a secondary school teacher in England.

All articles by Simon Lightman
Votes at 16 is moving forward - but schools need support
Schools don’t have adequate time or resources to engage students in democratic processes, which is a concern if young people are to be given the right to vote at age 16, says Simon Lightman
Secondary
30 April 2026
Illustration of ballot box
Voting at 16: why students should practise what we teach
The plan to lower the voting age makes sense because our current system denies students who are learning about democracy the chance to participate in it, says this teacher
Secondary
11 March 2026
Teenager at polling station
Why a social media ban would raise big questions for schools
Banning under-16s from social media would not remove the problem – and it could deny schools their role in empowering young people to protect themselves from danger, writes Simon Lightman
General
22 January 2026
Social media ban on phone