Ivan Lewis, minister for young people and adult skills, has published a progress report on the government's Listening to Learn initiative.

The government claims that young people are helping to shape government thinking on issues ranging from the 14 to 19 education reforms to new health and safety guidance for educational visits.

Forum Response: Association of Teachers and Lecturers

Gwen Evans, ATL's joint acting general secretary, told ePolitix.com: "We welcome the opportunity that young people are having to become involved in the actions of the DfES and the government as a whole.

"The chance for young people to have more of a choice to mix learning at school, college and work is one of the issues that AS level students highlighted to us in ATL's Work, Work, Work survey which got the feedback of young people on how they coped with studying and the impact it had on the rest of their lives.

"No one is better placed than young people to know how false the economy has become in terms of class size and crumbling schools. Young people are not fooled by today's politicians and their experiences must be seen as of significant importance to future policy making."