I was facinated to read about Caversham Primary School’s Ofsted-style inspection that was carried out by the pupils. Apparently, the head teacher was unimpressed by Ofsted’s account of the school, so she set about training an elected group of pupils to observe lessons and to carry out an inspection of their own.
The children involved noted several areas that could be improved – that at the end of the year the Year 6 pupils wound down too much, that some teachers didn’t involve all of the children in the lessons and that learning could be more pupil led. This all tied in with the SIPs view of the school.
I love to hear these stories of schools involving children in making improvements. It says a lot about the school that they trust the children enough to allow them to do this and that has to be a good thing for all concerned. The children feel represented and that they have a voice and the school gets to hear the truth straight from the horses mouth, so to speak.
I would like to invite readers to share any ideas they have had and/or implemented for giving pupils of all ages a chance to contribute to their school’s future.
