Student Voice
Aim:
To ENGAGE, ENTHUSE and EMPOWER our students and school community.
We passionately believe that…
if every child can have their voice heard, understood and responded to, they will become active participants in their communities.
About Student Voice
The Student Voice was re-launched in January 2009
- Members produced a Mission Statement (displayed on our SV notice board)
- Members produced a Charter/Group Agreement
We adopted a communication strategy which included:
- A Launch event
- Assemblies
- A section in the Beverlonian
- Notice board
- Form briefings
- Publishing the meeting minutes
Since then, students have taken ownership, helped to determine the direction and developed the Student Voice.
We designed a standardised election procedure which was first used in October 2009 through which new SV members were elected. A new Executive Committee was put in place-
- Chair: Will Clay
- Vice Chair: Elliott Pearson
- Secretary: Tom Dolman
- Treasurer: Ben Waters
Our aim is that all members will be:
- Empowered
- Trained
- Respected and High Profile
- Attending regular meetings
- Understanding issues that affect their school community
- Taking appropriate action
- Listening to others
- Being listened to
- Self reflective
Why do we need a Student Voice?
- Mr Goodwin is passionately committed to students having their ‘voice’ heard. At Beverley Grammar, we believe that students and parents are partners in the education process with the school. We also believe in forming strong links with the entire school and local community.
The Every Child Matters agenda states that every young person should:
- be healthy
- stay safe
- enjoy and achieve
- make a positive contribution
- achieve economic well-being.
We believe that the Student Voice can successfully contribute to all of these, but particularly the 4th outcome.
- Student Voice is also important because it links in to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). This is an international human rights treaty that grants all children and young people (aged 17 and under) a comprehensive set of rights. Specifically…
Article 12
Children have the right to say what they think should happen, when adults are making decisions that affect them, and to have their opinions taken into account.
Article 13
Children have the right to get and to share information as long as the information is not damaging to them or to others.
Article 15
Children have the right to meet together and to join groups and organisations, as long as this does not stop other people from enjoying their rights.
When and where do we meet?
- Student Voice meetings are monthly and held in RE2. Refreshments are provided
- The dates of our 2010/11 meetings are all on the school calendar and reminders are put on the weekly staff bulletins
Dates of SV Meetings 2010/11
15.09.10 Period 1
03.11.10 Period 2
03.12.10 Period 1
07.01.11 Period 1
11.02.11 Period 1
09.03.11 Period 1
06.04.11 Period 2
09.05.11 Period 2
10.06.11 Period 2
04.07.11 Period 2
SV Election week: 11th-15th October 2010
- We also have our distinctive orange and black t-shirts. These are used to identify Student Voice members when involved in organising events. They also help us to raise our profile and give the Student Voice character
What is the coolest thing about being on BGS’s Student Voice?
“You really feel a sense of empowerment, like you are actually making a positive difference to the school”
James Gilbert, 11S
“Being on the student voice is ace, I love the real life experience that it gives you because of the responsibilities the Student Voice has.”
Nick Try, 11F
“Being on the Student Voice has done wonders for my confidence, it’s helped me gain skills that I’ve used throughout the rest of school.”
Ben Fish, 11B
“Personally I feel I am a more responsible person since being part of the Student Voice, we all get treated like grownups and this gives us all a confidence boost in our selves, also just being with Mrs.T and your fellow Student Voice members makes it all more fun”
Conor Hawkes, 10M
“Being on the Student Voice is really fun and very cool, we want to make our school a better environment for working and learning”
Jack Robinson, 7S
“It’s a great achievement. It’s a pleasure to be part of it. I feel we are making a genuine difference.”
Sami Yuksel, 9B
“I’ve really enjoyed feeling valued by Mr Goodwin and having our opinions listened to. It was brilliant being on the interview panel for new teachers.”
Harry Newbourn 7M
“It gives students a sense of responsibility, as you always feels your voice is listened to. The difference you can make as a member of the student voice really makes you feel important.”
Harrison Dent, 10B
Rules and Expectations of the Student Voice
- Elections take place annually
- At the first meeting the SV Executive are elected:
- Chair
- Vice Chair
- Secretary
- Treasurer
(This meeting is chaired by the SV link teacher)
- From this point the Chair presides and calls meetings to order
- The Chair/Vice Chair present the agenda items to the SV
- The SV link teacher assists in keeping order and gives advice when necessary
- The Student Voice has the democratic power to suspend or exclude a form representative
- All representatives have equal status and an equal right to speak by raising their hand
- When a vote needs to be taken, each representative has 1 vote
- The Secretary takes minutes
- Minutes are typed up by the Secretary and distributed to all members of our school community by the SV link teacher via paper copies and email. They are also displayed on the SV notice board
- Form tutors are asked for feedback time in the week following the SV meeting (through staff bulletin and email)
- Agendas are sent out the week before the meeting and form tutors are asked to give the representative time to discuss with their form (through staff bulletin and email)
- A SV representative may be suspended or excluded from the SV by a majority vote
- A form may take a vote of ‘no-confidence’ in their representative at any time. If it is upheld by a majority vote then new elections must take place
- The staff link teacher reserves the right to assume charge of the meeting if necessary
Staff
Student Voice is supported by a team of teachers who are committed to students having a voice at Beverley Grammar School:
Mrs Taylor is the SV link teacher as well as being SPACE co-ordinator and RE teacher
Mrs Good: (who is the link teacher when Mrs Taylor is not here) our RE, ICT and Business Studies link
Mrs McKee (Teaching Assistant) our link with Learning Support who is passionate about making a difference and putting students at the heart of what we do
Mrs Todd: (Deputy Head) our SLT and English Department link
Mr Parish: previous SV link teacher with 5 years expertise and Science Department link
Mrs Caddell: Maths Department link with a special interest in the charity aspect of SV
Mr Scott: New Physics teacher with a special interest in pupil-led learning
Extra Curricular Clubs, support etc
The Student Voice is involved in Extra Curricular activities & each Student Voice representative receives support from their form tutors as well as the link teacher. The work we do is not just in the classroom, and we are actively involved at lunchtimes, after school and during holidays in order to make a difference to the school. Some of the things we are proud to have been involved in since January 2009 are:
- Litter Patrol (last Friday of each month)
- SV Display containing pictures, mission statement and minutes
- Website page
- Interviewing and showing round all new members of staff
- Writing SV Action Plan which feeds in to BGS’s overall SEF
- Year 6 transition help
- Attending staff/departmental meetings
- Charity Work
This work will continue to expand and develop