Student Voice

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. 

The term ‘student voice’ refers to ways of listening to the views of students and / or involving them in decision making. 

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. 

  

School council page 

The School Council at Pioneer House High School empowers students to become actively involved in promoting the school’s effective learning environment in partnership with staff, parents and the community, so that all students are able to achieve their full potential. 

The School Council does this by:   

  • Ensuring that the Student Voice is heard 
  • Providing students with a safe, fair, democratic and friendly forum, in which they are able to express their views and opinions 
  • Providing students with opportunities to become involved in the decision-making process in relation to the school and their education 
  • Implementing a democratic process through which students have the opportunity to become elected representatives for their year group.   
  • Ensuring that adults and students in school work in partnership, sharing ideas, taking action and striving for continuous improvement 
  • Promoting a positive learning environment in which our students can thrive and prepare for life beyond Pioneer House 
  • Developing students' cultural capital through the accumulation of knowledge behaviours and skills, including those of negotiation, to support them to become successful adults who are able to make a positive contribution to the society in which they live.  

Congratulations to our current School Council members – you represent our students, promote our Pioneer House Vision and our Code of Conduct.