Learning To Lead
The Learning to Lead organisation has created an innovative and highly effective approach to pupil participation. Contact us if you are interested in doing some training with us in collaboration with them in Cornwall.
About Learning to Lead
Learning to Lead is a training and consultancy organisation born out of a concern for the lack of opportunity for genuine student involvement in the life of the school community.
Learning to Lead has created a school council model to address this need, so that students can choose to be a part of a supportive organisation made up of student-led teams, in which they develop their ideas and are responsible for turning these ideas into positive action.
So how is it done?
Every student involved has a concern or interest. Learning to Lead empowers individuals to identify what they care about and act upon it. The students are provided with a day's training which enables them to work collaboratively towards achieving their ambitions and to become members of the school council. When trained, the students meet in teams each week to plan their activities.
During this process they learn:
- teamworking and facilitation skills
- agenda planning and minute-taking
- collaborative decision-making
- reviewing and planning
- goal-setting and budgeting
- the distinction between governance, management and action
- the meaning of accountability, transparency and responsibility
The teams produce five-year plans which join together to form the five-year school council development plan. The Governance Support Team negotiates with the headteacher and chair of governors to make sure the plan integrates with the school's development plan.
Students share their achievements and ideas in the termly School Forum, a meeting of all members of the school council and year representatives.
The teams are supported by two link teachers and the Management, Finance and Office Support Teams when they need help.
"We don't just have our say and then nothing happens. We turn our plans into action. After all, the school is here for us."
John Dixon - Blue School Council member
Further information about the Learning to Lead process.
PADL
School councils and pupil parliaments can get themselves a Promoting Active Democracy Loudly (PADL) award. Cornwall Healthy Schools are now supporting schools with the awards. Click here for more information.
