Real decision making? School councils in action

In 2005, The Innovation Unit (then called the DfES Innovation Unit) funded a project to produce materials for primary schools to set up and run school councils. This project was part of The Innovation Unit's programme of work on personalising learning. Following the take-up of these materials, Anne Diack, the Innovation Unit Directors leading on learner perspective and school councils, and the research team at the then Department for Education and Skills, now the Department for Children, Schools and Families, commissioned Professor Geoff Whitty and his team at the Institute of Education to undertake a general research project about school councils in both primary and secondary schools to inform the updating of the guidance for schools on pupil participation in decision making.

The aim of the research report is inform the revised guidance by reviewing current practice, identifying drivers and barriers to change, providing examples of good practice and making recommendations about the place of school councils in school decision making and school improvement. This Innovation Investigation publication, aimed at school leaders and teachers, is an abbreviated version of the full report, Real Decision Making? School Councils in Action (2007, DCSF, report reference DCSF-RR001).

This publication details many of the benefits of schools councils and it is clear from these that school councils can make an important and rich contribution, both to the community and to the learning environment of the school.

Innovation Investigation: Real decision making? School councils in action  (4.5 MB)

Schools Minister, Andrew Adonis, spoke about the latest Innovation Investigation: Real decision making? Schools council in action, at a special event about schools councils held at Forest Gate Community Schools in East London on 18 September 2007:

"Schools Councils are an effective way of facilitating pupils' involvement in matters which affect them. However, there are a wide range of mechanisms, which many schools implement and we are looking to encourage all forms of student participation in decision making. Therefore, I am delighted today that the Innovation Unit, along with the Department for Children, Schools and Families, have published a booklet with examples of good practice and opportunities to share ideas. Schools will have further opportunities to share good practice through the Innovation Unit online community."

You can read the full text of Lord Adonis's speech here.

Over 150 participants heard from members of school councils in London on the impact councils could make on behaviour in schools, teaching and learning, and student engagement. They also heard from Lord Adonis; Professor Geoff Whitty - Institute of Education; Mike Gibbons - Chief Executive of The Innovation Unit; Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green - Children's Commissioner for England; Bernard Trafford - Chair of Schools Councils UK; Barry Sheerman - Chair of the Commons Select Committee on Education; John Dunford - General Secretary of the Secondary Heads Association; John Bangs - Assistant Secretary of the National Union of Teachers; Susan Piers-Mantell - Learning to Lead; and Professor Lynn Davies - University of Birmingham, all of whom emphasised the crucial importance of schools councils.

You can read the press notice from the Department for Children, Schools and Families here.

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