Conor Carleton

Conor Carleton is a children and young people expert, providing policy consultancy for IPPR.

He leads IPPR’s participatory work with young people and is also currently overseeing a national review of primary assessment and accountability in England.

Alongside his work with IPPR, Conor has a freelance policy and research practice. He has published comparative curriculum research with the Centre for Education Systems and was formerly a Senior Associate at the Centre for Education and Youth, leading policy development on youth wellbeing, SEND and youth violence, and approaches to lived experience policymaking.

Conor began his career in health and social care, working with local council and NHS leaders to ensure patients’ lived experiences were meaningfully represented in service design.

More from this author:

  1. “I feel quite unsettled and unsafe”: Young people, belonging, and the broken promise of childhood

    Young people in England feel less secure, supported and connected than a decade ago. Based on nearly 200 conversations, this blog explores why childhood feels more stressful and less joyful.
  2. A group of primary school aged children using ipads around a table, a little girl smiles at the camera

    "Primary is what comes first": How end of key stage 2 exams impact disadvantaged children

    End of primary school tests need reform to work better for the children who need the most support at school.

  3. Britain’s broken social contract: Young people have lost faith in their future

    Drawing on new evidence, this blog examines the decline in young people’s optimism about work, success and social mobility, and argues for a new deal to rebuild trust in Britain’s social contract.