Student Voice - Teaching Expertise

Student interviewers may not have the same priorities as school leaders but they still have useful insights to share, says Peter Kent

School councils are becoming more influential in primaries. Neil Short discusses the implications and shares examples of just how far children can go in leading their own learning

Elizabeth Holmes continues her focus on CPD aspects of student voice, in CPD Week

Student voice is the subject of this CPD Week, as Elizabeth Holmes discusses the CPD preparation necessary behind making student voice work as a process

How do you implement a whole-school anti-bullying policy? Headteacher Mark Vickers describes how Manhood Community College in West Sussex got everybody involved in the shaping of theirs during a campaign to stop bullying

This issue of Behaviour Matters provides you with ways to improve lessons through listening to pupils' opinions and feedback on tasks

What difference could you make, during your life, to society? That is the question this assembly asks pupils, with particular regard to the politician Gwyneth Dunwoody whose life and work it remembers

What does the word loyalty mean to your students? This assembly looks at this issue of loyalty, drawing on the recent call for pupils to pledge allegiance to the Queen

These activities encourage pupils to think both logically and creatively to find solutions for everyday problems read more

Is your voice being heard at school? Elizabeth Hartnell-Young explains how a project undertaken by a team at Nottingham University revealed that teachers and students have a lot to say about the learning process, and that they should be heard

Are students and student voice involved in strategic decision making at your school? 'Learning conversations' at Rivington and Blackrod High School, near Bolton, means that they are, explains Ingrid Cox

Jason Wood describes a groundbreaking project in which two Cornish schools carried out research comparing the views of SEN students and their peers on ECM outcomes read more

How would you feel about a student critiquing your teaching style and lesson plans? Involving students in the teaching and learning process can promote agendas relating to student voice, believes Trevor Brittain

A project aimed at raising the profile of plenaries at Sandringham School, St Albans, has evolved into a catalyst for change that allows students to make their voices heard in the school. Deputy head Ceddy de la Croix explains read more

Three years after they first started practising Philosophy for Children, Year 6 children, one parent and two of their teachers recorded what the experience had meant for them. We publish below an edited excerpt from the resulting DVD read more

Mandi Horwood describes how a project to investigate how students saw their learning and how they can have a say in it revealed the vital contribution that they have to make read more

Natassja Cole gives her verdict on the pros and cons of being on the G&T register

Headteacher Neil Berry explains how Brampton Manor in East London – described by Ofsted in December 1999 as having 'serious weaknesses' – was turned into the fully inclusive, successful school it is today

How can we get primary-aged children to give us feedback about their classroom experiences? Iwona Glowacz used the prospect of getting published as a way of collecting pupils' thoughts read more

David Gimson describes how cross-curricular observation helped teachers to develop more effective questioning techniques – and also led to them asking their own questions about the G&T 'label'

Some people think that children under five are too young to express opinions, but Sara Bryson and her colleagues found ways of ensuring that babies and children were at the heart of the decision-making process read more

Canvassing pupils’ views can inform their learning as well as our teaching – as Paul Ainsworth discovered when he asked one of his classes to comment on his marking read more

A recent research review reveals exactly what pupils want from the curriculum read more

Barry Griffiths summarises key points of an online debate about family relationships read more

Lois Canessa describes how she actively involved students in setting up a school council read more

Raising Achievement Update looks at a book that describes practical ways of meeting the challenges of implementing circle time in secondary schools and why it can be so valuable read more

Teacher and trainer Michelle McGrath argues that the emphasis on students as partners in their learning is a fundamental challenge to the current model of teaching and will require significant shifts in attitudes at all levels in schools

Listening to what students themselves have to say about their education is an important part of high-quality G&T provision. Year 8 pupil, Beth Hancox outlines her thoughts on the qualities of a good teacher for gifted and talented students

Yeading Junior in Hayes has evolved its strategy for putting emotional health and wellbeing at the centre of the curriculum. Headteacher Carole Jones describes how

The contribution of students as researchers (STARS) to students’ learning and to school development can have numerous benefits. David Lucas and Dr Margaret Wood recount their experience at Deptford Green secondary school

Staff soon discovered that it was more than just a ‘learning to learn’ scheme. Liz Solomon describes the challenges and insights gained from trialling Thinking Through School. read more

The EPPI website is an excellent resource for informing your decision making, says David Leat. read more

Julie Leoni describes how she tried to do justice to the voices of young people in her presentation to the Antidote conference. read more

In this article, Christopher Williams unpacks recent DfES guidance on student involvement. read more

Antidote director James Park and development director Marilyn Tew describe the challenge that schools face if they are to address a decline in student wellbeing between Years 5 and 10

In the first episode of her diary, drama teacher Julie Leoni writes about reconciling her emotional literacy programme with the school’s focus on targets and achievement. read more

Do students have something constructive to say about their own education? Putting pupil consultation at the forefront of her research into tacking underachievement allowed Helen Lee to highlight some new areas of concern for her school

Matthew Savage, assistant headteacher, George Mitchell Community School, and Dr Margaret Wood, senior lecturer, York St John University College, explore the role of student voice in evaluating and then improving the learning experience of students in the classroom

A well structured questionnaire can help bring out the pupil voice. G&T adviser Linda Hodgson describes how her cluster has developed a way of listening to and responding to pupils’ perceptions of school

In his regular column, Dr Graham Haydon argues that, despite appearances, PSHE as well as citizenship has a role in education for democracy. read more

Rivington and Blackrod High School has developed various ways to engage and respond to student voice — not least of which involves students giving staff feedback on teaching processes. The school is also involved in an LEA-wide initiative to promote collaborative leadership at a student level

Legal case notes: Re: R (Residence: Shared Care: Children’s Views) [2006] 1 FLR 491, CA

Researchers based at the University of Bristol are examining the support for children with complex communication needs – in both mainstream and special schools – to express their views and make decisions for themselves. read more

The Special Educational Needs Regional Partnerships (SEN RPs) have made a substantial and marked contribution to the government’s agenda regarding provision for pupils with SEN, according to a report* from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER). read more

UNICEF UK's whole school change initiative the 'Rights Respecting School Award', has been informed by the Developing Citizenship project, as Heather Jarvis from UNICEF UK explains

On Martin Luther King Day, suggestions from Year 8 and 9 students at Benjamin Britten High School. read more

Young people discuss bullying, citizenship, fair trade and social responsibility

Many schools would say their students have a voice, but do they really? What about at Whalley Range? read more

The Trading Game is part of a proactive approach towards Citizenship, including a new Citizenship department and a Human Rights group.