The term ‘student voice’ refers to ways of listening to the views of students and / or involving them in decision making.
At Pioneer House High School we believe that students should be active participants in their own learning; that their opinions should be heard and valued both in school and in the wider community. We actively seek ways to engage students and encourage them to make a contribution.
Student Voice and Participation at Pioneer House
There is a wide range of approaches used across school to support students of all ages and abilities to engage in pupil participation and promote pupil voice:
- School Council
- Peer mentoring
- Leadership programme
- Student contribution to their annual EHCP review
- Student led enterprises
- Consulting students on their targets and progress
- Student voice conference
Teaching and Therapy
Bespoke teaching approaches and therapies (OT, Speech and Language, Music Therapy, Holistic therapy) are a growing part of student’s education at Pioneer House High School. Where appropriate, students are asked to provide input into target setting by identifying their own priorities for improvement and discussing the impact of this work. This allows student to work on areas they value and increases motivation.
The Curriculum
Embedded into the curriculum are teaching and learning opportunities where students are asked to consider and share their own opinions. The annual student voice conference provides the students with the opportunity to have their voices heard and for them to share what they feel they need to become well-rounded members of their community. The results of which help shape our community offer. Students are encouraged to reflect on their own learning and identify future goals in collaboration with teachers and support staff. They also have opportunities to input and plan for specific tasks and activities; e.g. plan what to cook for lunch in the café, what to plant in the garden or what ‘game’ to organise for a school event.
School Council
School council promotes democracy, leadership and mutual responsibility throughout the school. Elected class representatives meet weekly. The process of school council provides:
- A positive forum for student voice
- Structured opportunity for student-leadership dialogue
- Students with an insight into democracy
- A forum for students to instigate change in respect of elements of school life, e.g. school meals, social areas, outdoor equipment
- A feeling of self-worth and mutual respect for pupils.
Whole School Approach to Student Involvement
Staff understand the importance in involving students in all aspects of their education and learning. Student views are valued and time is always given to seeking out and listening to the views of individuals and to taking these views into consideration in any decision-making. Students routinely give their own contributions to their annual EHCP review meetings and take a central role in transition planning. Opportunities for peer mentoring and support (e.g. young leaders) are provided, as are extra-curricular lunchtime clubs, many of which are run in response to students’ requests.
Charity events and fundraisers for the school and for local and national charities (e.g. Children In Need) are planned in collaboration with students, giving them ownership and pride in what they achieve.
Pioneer House High School is committed to the promotion and protection of children’s rights in line with the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child. We believe that all children and young people should have opportunities to express their opinion in matters that affect their lives and strive to ensure that they are provided with learning opportunities that equip them to do so as effectively as possible.
