Saved by the Bell - UK school children's understanding of the Commonwealth

Our latest report, in partnership with the Royal Commonwealth Society, presents the case that awareness of the Commonwealth in young Britons is at a low ebb.

Polling commissioned for this report shows that only 50% of young Britons know that the Queen is the Head of the Commonwealth; seven in ten do not have a friend in a Commonwealth country; only 7% can correctly identify the Commonwealth flag; nearly half have not learnt about the Commonwealth in school; and under one in four can correctly identify three Commonwealth nations. 

You can download a copy of the report here or by clicking on the images directly below.

We launched the report in the Palace of Westminster and in Tetherdown Primary school in North London. You can see a number of photos from both events below.

In the early days of the Commonwealth, communications were archaic by today’s standards.Technological advancement has made connecting with the Commonwealth much easier.The internet has brought the Commonwealth within touching distance in an affordable and instantaneous way. Our recommendations reflect this:

1. Update Commonwealth curriculum resources
2. Create a Commonwealth App
3. Reintroduce a Commonwealth pen pal scheme (Commonwealth Chat)
4. Design an attainable Commonwealth Youth Exchange Programme
5. Establish a Commonwealth graduate careers fair

The Government must not be ambivalent to Commonwealth learning. It cannot allow British pupils to leave school with a one-sided or isolated view of the world.The same must be said of other Commonwealth organisations.The Commonwealth functions best when it is human, connected, and decentralised. We have endeavoured to provide a modern path for young Britons to tap, swipe, and click their way to a great new Commonwealth discovery.