15/09/2026
We are sharing the following letter from Dame de Souza. It would be helpful you could complete this for your child.
Dear Headteacher,
As children and young people return to school for the new academic year, I am writing to ask for your support in making sure pupils at your school have the opportunity to take part in my national survey, The Big Future. I have only heard from less than ten children at your school.
The survey can be completed here:
https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/thebigfuture.
I have already heard from hundreds of thousands of children and young people across England, and the majority of schools have now taken part.
It is crucial that children at your school have the chance to add their voices too, so that their experiences, views and aspirations are represented when I present the findings of the survey to Government.
I would be very grateful if you could support your pupils to fill out the survey at the start of term by:
sharing the survey directly with pupils through your school or college email system;
sharing it with parents and carers across your wider school community; and
setting aside time during form, tutor periods, assemblies or lessons for pupils to complete the survey.
Many schools have found that giving children time during the school day is the most effective way to ensure as many pupils as possible can take part. To make this as easy as possible, I have created a slide pack, an introductory video and FAQs which you can find on my website.
Every child’s voice matters, and I want to make sure that children and young people in every school and college, in every community, have the opportunity to shape the picture of childhood that I will share with Government.
Thank you for your support in helping to make sure your pupils’ voices are heard as we begin the new school year.
Yours sincerely,
Dame Rachel de Souza
Children’s Commissioner for England
