Opportunity to join the Student Advisory Group

Published: Monday 16 Sep 2024

Now up and running for six years, the Student Advisory Group has given dozens of young people the opportunity to take part in roundtable discussions about education policy, visit the Houses of Parliament, and gain key skills that helped them progress to the next level of their education.

Those who are successful with their application this autumn will:

• Have a chance to shape the future of the curriculum and qualifications for young people
• Develop their communication, organisational, presentation and networking skills
• Enjoy meeting other young people in an experience that will look good on a CV

For its part, AQA needs to hear the student voice to help inform the development of its exams and wider education policies. We’re looking for young people who care about education and are good communicators with interesting ideas.

Successful applicants will, as part of the Student Advisory Group, report to AQA leaders as well as our Board of Trustees. They will ask students’ views on a wide range of topics: exam paper design, digital exams, and the future of the curriculum to name but three.

Student Advisory Group members will attend meetings three times each year between January and November 2025. They’ll be expected to prepare before the meeting so that they can contribute to the discussions.

It’s likely that students will be asked to join events at other times of the year. Previous members have spoken on panel discussions at the Festival of Education at Wellington College, attended a reception at the Houses of Parliament, and shared their views on government consultations.

To apply to become a member of the Student Advisory Group, young people should write a short statement, no more than 500 words long, here. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Wednesday 25 September. Students who are shortlisted will be interviewed online.

AQA is interested in hearing from students from all backgrounds. But we are particularly interested in hearing from those young people at further education colleges and non-selective state schools, and who are doing vocational or technical qualifications or have an education, health and care plan.

Cerys McGrath, student co-chair of the Student Advisory Group, said about her experience:

"It is a unique and privileged opportunity to chair the Student Advisory Group. We work closely with AQA, representing students up and down the UK. As a community of passionate young people, we genuinely feel that we are shaping the future of education. AQA colleagues act on our feedback and make our voices heard, demonstrating AQA's commitment to supporting its students.”

Anne Spackman, Chair of the Board of Trustees, said:

“I'm delighted that AQA has created a forum that allows young people to express their opinions and put forward ideas about education.

"AQA is about helping all young people to realise their potential and progress successfully to the next stage of life, whether in education, training or employment. So it's essential that we hear from those directly affected by our work.

"I very much look forward to working with and learning from the young people who make up our Student Advisory Group."

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