Belfast Model School For Girls

Student Voice Part of Personalising Learning agenda Meet needs of pupils in 21 st Century Collaborative partnerships Learning and Teaching at centre

Learning and Teaching Challenge is to:- Engage those who are disenchanted Make more effective learners Broaden base of achievement Create independent learners Encourage student leadership Meet MORE of the educational needs of MORE of the students MORE of the time

9 Gateways of Learning Work of David Hargreaves Drawn up by a group of practising principals Most important gateway was considered to be Student Voice Later refined into 4 Deeps with Student Voice part of Deep Learning

Long-Term Over next 3/5 Years work towards what was considered the most powerful aspect of Personalised Learning –Student Voice  Engagement of students and staff with learning  Take responsibility for own learning and behaviour  Independence in, and control over, ones learning  Confidence in oneself as a learner  Maturity in staff/student relationships  Co-construction of design and delivery of education – learning, teaching, curriculum, assessment. Student Voice is a crucial link between Co-construction and Engagement

We have to ask ourselves What makes a good lesson when students want to engage? How would students make the lesson better? Should students be involved in governance, school development planning, interviewing of staff, observing lessons, researching issues? Move slowly, build trust and relationships but must move as this is the future.

Student Voice Leadership Team Student Voice/Student Council Year 8 & 9 Year All other Reps from Extra Curricular Activities Peer Mediators Student Researchers Student Interviewers Behaviour Improvement Council ( ) Students as Learning Partners Games Officials/Sports Reps

The Story so far Peer Mediators- Year 11 Pupils working with Year 8 pupils, trained in mediation skills undertaking audit of transition period Student Researchers- Form Class based; researching Bullying, Child Protection, Make-Up Code & Road Safety Student Interviewers- Major input into SV posts and Pre- briefing discussions with prospective staff members Learning Partners- Trained by SSAT trainer financed through Big Deal, Feedback on Learning in lessons and Co- constructors of Learning (8 Staff Volunteers) Extra-Curricular Reps- All connected with SV Leadership Team, involved with YouthBank Team

Next Steps Learning Partner Input into Learning Behaviour Improvement Panel Extra-Curricular Programme Consultation SV Leadership Team input into Staff INSET days in August 2008, Pastoral and Curriculum Teams, SLT and Board of Governor meetings Assistant Co-ordinator of SV starts post Student Leadership part of School Leadership