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You are in: Teaching & Learning » Citizenship » Pupil Voice - School Council |
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Pupil Voice - School CouncilPupils as Researchers NewA pilot project with four schools from disadvantaged areas of Hertfordshire took place in the autumn term, to look at ways to enable children and young people to be involved in evaluating education and making decisions. The project also looked at developing the skills of teachers and students to lead decision-informing research. The pilot was a collaborative project between Cambridge University, Save the Children UK and Hertfordshire County Council. Teachers from the four participating schools - Westfield Community Technology College, Chessbrook Education Support Centre, Holdbrook Primary School and Greenside School - were helped to evaluate the effectiveness of participation practice within each of their schools. They attended training sessions, and were accredited with a Certificate for Further Professional Studies by Cambridge University. The training sessions covered the background to participation, research methodologies and ethics. Having undergone their own training, the teachers trained carefully selected pupil researchers, who then went on to train other pupils. This ensured that the schools involved were able to continue to develop and build on practices set up during the pilot. Pupils developed many new skills and made key decisions about their research subjects. The data gathered was collated and presented, and provided valuable information about issues pertinent to young people, which the schools have been encouraged to use to inform their school development plans. The pupils involved were very positive about the experience; they felt that it boosted their confidence, whilst also giving them a new insight into how the school functions.
Participation ToolkitThe Participation, Consultation and Involvement Toolkit provides comprehensive information on how to involve children and young people in shaping their educational experience.
Below are some examples from Appendix 7 of the toolkit- Involving pupils in Teaching and Learning. Some examples we'd like to share include: Appendix 7.1 Involving Primary Aged Children in Teaching and Learning
Appendix 7.2 Circle Time
Appendix 7.3 ESC Model
Creating an Effective School CouncilA short case study of how Lymm High School benefits from a school council that has been running for over two years and engages pupils with "real democracy in action". Handbook & ToolkitTwo recent primary resources funded by the DfES Innovation Unit are downloadable from the excellent School Councils website. The School Council Handbook is aimed at pupils and the Key Stage 1 Participation The School Councils Toolkit has been written for teachers. Hard copies can be purchased from:
SEN - SecondarySchool Council in a Multiple Disabilities Special School This short case study shows how Victoria School, a Special School catering for pupils aged 2-19 years, who have multiple disabilities are given opportunities to take responsibility, participate in the life of the school and develop their communication skills. Perceptions of Schools CouncilsChallenging perceptions of schools councils in the primary school, an article by by Sue Cox and Anna Robinson-Pant is well worth reading. Published in, Education 3-13, Volume 33 Number 2 June 2005 it explains how school councils have been set up in primary schools based on adult models of democratic committees. This article looks at children's and teachers' perspectives on their school councils and goes on to analyse the ways in which alternative strategies for addressing the constraints identified were developed in three Norfolk primary schools. Part of the authors' conclusion is how they learned about the need to look more critically at how school councils are introduced in the context of citizenship education. Both the authors are lecturersat thet University of East Anglia. Inspiring SchoolsImpact and Outcomes commissioned by Carnegie Young People Initiative and published in May 2006examines the results of involving young people in school and college decision making and reviewing 75 case studies. The University of Birmingham's Centre for International Education and Research, which carried out the study said participation improved academic performance and behaviour. It also increased self-esteem, communication skills and levels of citizenship outside school. Lynn Davies, professor of international education is the author of the report. More details at:
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