Every Friday, Twinkl Scotland will be discussing a new theme for Scotland4kids and S4k Teachers’ Edition readers. This weeks theme is Pupils’ Voice.
For decades, Scottish education has championed the idea of learner voice, recognising that young people are not just recipients of education but active participants in shaping their learning environment. Pupil councils are the embodiment of this, providing a formal platform for learners to express their views, contribute to decision-making and drive positive change within their schools.
But how do we ensure a pupil council is impactful and not just a tokenistic gesture? A place where students politely raise concerns that ultimately go unheard.
From improving playground facilities and advocating for healthier school meals to contributing to anti-bullying strategies and even influencing curriculum choices, pupil councils in Scotland are making a tangible difference. They align with the principles of Curriculum for Excellence and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which is incorporated into Scots Law. They provide a crucial feedback loop for school leadership, offering unique perspectives and practical solutions that might otherwise be overlooked.
How Do They Work?
While the exact structure might vary from school to school, the core principles remain consistent. Typically, learners from various year groups and classes are elected by their peers to represent their classmates. This democratic process itself is a valuable learning experience, teaching learners about civic responsibility, campaigning and the importance of representation.
Regular meetings are held, often facilitated by a teacher or a member of the senior leadership team, ensuring that learner voices are heard and acted upon. Agendas are often driven by learner concerns and discussions are encouraged to be open, honest and constructive.
For a pupil council to be truly effective, it must operate on a foundation of authentic participation. This means going beyond tokenism and ensuring that learner voice leads to meaningful action. Key principles include:
- Inclusivity and Respect: All learners, regardless of age, gender, ability, background or additional support needs, have the right to participate. Their views should be heard and treated with respect.
- Transparency and Accountability: The purpose of the pupil council must be clear. Decisions made by the learners and responses to their recommendations should be communicated effectively to the wider school community. Adults should be accountable for explaining how pupil views have been considered.
- Relevance and Impact: The issues discussed by the pupil council should be relevant to learners’ lives and experiences. Their participation should lead to outcomes and changes that make a difference.
- Power Sharing: Adults should genuinely share power and decision-making with learners, allowing them to take the lead where appropriate and providing support rather than control.
- Capacity Building: Both learners and staff need training and ongoing support to ensure the pupil council is effective. This includes developing facilitation skills for staff and communication and advocacy skills for learners.
Structuring Your Pupil Council
Membership and Representation:
- Democratic Elections: Encourage fair and transparent election processes, allowing learners to campaign and present their ideas. This teaches valuable lessons about democracy.
- Broad Representation: Aim for representation from all year groups and consider specific representatives for different groups (e.g. pupils with additional support needs, different cultural backgrounds) to ensure diverse voices are heard.
- Class Representatives: Often, the most effective model involves each class electing representatives, who then feed back to their peers and bring issues from their class to council meetings.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Roles: Define clear roles within the council (e.g. Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Communications Officer). Rotate these roles to give more learners leadership opportunities.
- Staff Facilitator: A designated staff member should support the council. Their role is to facilitate, guide, provide information and connect the council with relevant decision-makers, not to control.
- Senior Leadership Support: Strong backing from the Head Teacher and senior leadership is crucial for the council’s credibility and impact.
Meeting Structure and Agenda:
- Regular Meetings: Establish a consistent meeting schedule (e.g. fortnightly, monthly) and stick to it.
- Learner-Led Agenda: Encourage learners to set the agenda, focusing on issues they identify as important.
- Clear Purpose: Each meeting should have clear objectives and actionable outcomes.
- Record Keeping: Maintain clear minutes of meetings, actions agreed and progress made. This provides transparency and accountability.
- Feedback Loops: Crucially, ensure there is a clear process for feeding back decisions and actions to the wider student body and for communicating the outcomes to school leadership.
What can Pupil Councils Influence?
Pupil councils can influence a wide range of school matters. By encouraging learners to focus on areas where their voice can genuinely make a difference will see the greatest impact.
Learning, Teaching, and Assessment
- feedback on teaching methods and learning resources
- input on homework policies
- suggestions for new extra-curricular activities or clubs
- ideas for making learning more engaging and relevant
School Environment and Facilities
- improvements to playgrounds, common areas, or dining facilities
- suggestions for school grounds development (e.g. planting, seating)
- ideas for promoting sustainability (e.g. recycling, energy saving)
Health and Wellbeing
- input on anti-bullying policies and campaigns
- suggestions for promoting mental health awareness
- ideas for healthier school meals or tuck shop options
- initiatives to promote physical activity
School Policies
- contributing to the development or review of school vision, values and aims
- input on uniform policies
- discussing and suggesting improvements to school communication
Community Links
- organising fundraising events for local charities
- initiating community service projects
- developing links with local businesses or community groups
Digital Learning and Safety
- feedback on online learning platforms
- suggestions for promoting online safety and digital citizenship
What are the benefits?
The impact of strong pupil councils extends far beyond just specific improvements within the school. They play a vital role in developing leadership skills. Learners learn to articulate their views, negotiate, compromise and lead initiatives. When learners feel their opinions matter, they develop a greater sense of responsibility and engagement with their school community.
Pupil councils are a foundational step in teaching young people about democratic processes and their role in society. By providing a safe and respected space for the learner voice, councils contribute to a more inclusive, supportive and responsive school environment. They help to build stronger relationships and understanding between learners and staff. Pupil councils also provide a crucial “pupil voice” in school self-evaluation (as per “How Good Is Our School?”) and improvement planning, leading to more relevant and impactful changes.
Most importantly, the work of a pupil council directly reflects Article 12 of the UNCRC, which states that children have the right to express their views freely in all matters affecting them, and those views should be given due weight in accordance with their age and maturity.
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