Making a difference at school and in your community

You do not have to wait until you are 18 to make a difference. Young citizens can change things in their school and community.

Practise this lesson free (6 questions)

Having your say at school

Many schools have a school council or student voice group. Pupils elect representatives, who share ideas and concerns with staff.
This is democracy in action: listening to others, debating, voting and agreeing a plan.
Other ways to take part include eco groups, peer mentoring, fundraising and organising events.

Ways to take action

Citizens can: volunteer; start or sign a petition; contact a councillor or MP; write to a newspaper or post responsibly online; join or start a campaign; organise a peaceful event; or raise money for a cause.
The best action depends on the problem and who has the power to fix it.

Planning an action

A simple plan for taking action:
1. Choose an issue you care about.
2. Research it: find facts and different views, from reliable sources.
3. Plan: set a clear aim, decide who has the power to help and choose your methods.
4. Act: carry out your plan, working as a team.
5. Review: what worked, what did not, and what would you do differently?
Worked example

Pupils want a safer crossing outside school. Who has the power to help, and what could they do?

  1. Most local roads are run by the local council, so the council can decide on crossings.
  2. The pupils could research accidents and traffic, collect a petition from parents and pupils, and write to their local councillor.
  3. They should then review what happened and keep pushing if needed.

Answer: The local council. Research the problem, start a petition and write to the ward councillor.

Key idea

Young people can make a difference through school councils, volunteering, petitions, contacting representatives and campaigns. Plan an action in five steps: choose, research, plan, act, review.

Key words
Community
A group of people who share something, such as a place, a faith or an interest.
Democracy
Rule by the people, usually by electing representatives in free and fair elections.
Volunteer
Someone who gives their time freely, without being paid.
Petition
A request for action signed by many people, sent to a decision-maker such as Parliament or a council.
Councillor
An elected member of a local council who represents a ward.

All KS3 Citizenship key terms and definitions →

Quick check

Try two quick questions

See if it has sunk in. Answers are marked straight away.

Extra practice

2 more questions

Try each one, then tap to check.

  1. How are members of a school council usually chosen?

    1. The head teacher picks the oldest pupils
    2. They are chosen by Parliament
    3. They are paid to apply
    4. Pupils elect them to represent their classes
    Show the answer

    Answer: Pupils elect them to represent their classes

    School councils are made up of elected pupil representatives who give pupils a voice.

  2. Which order of steps is best for a citizenship action?

    1. Act, then choose an issue, then research
    2. Review, then act, then choose an issue
    3. Choose an issue, research it, plan and act, then review
    4. Research, then review, then choose an issue
    Show the answer

    Answer: Choose an issue, research it, plan and act, then review

    Start by choosing an issue, then research, plan, act and review.

Check you have got it

Answer 6 quick questions with instant marking. If you get one wrong, GCSE-ready shows you why and gives you another go. It is free, and you do not need an account.

Practise this lesson free (6 questions)All KS3 Citizenship lessons

Video for this lesson coming soon. Subscribe on YouTube

Sources and references

Checked by the GCSE-ready editorial team, 23 October 2026. Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.