1. Student Voice
Nathan Loynes

2. National Children’s Bureau
http://www.ncb.org.uk/media/472499/110819_participation_works_partnership_response_-_pupil_voice_statutory_guidance.pdf
• What do we mean by “pupil voice” and “pupil
participation”? The distinction between the terms
‘pupil voice’ and ‘pupil participation’, and their use
throughout the guidance document, may result in
confusion for schools. Given the guidance’s clear
commitment to participation as set out in Article 12
of the CRC, we do not believe that it is constructive to
encourage tokenistic processes which might be
considered ‘pupil voice’. Schools may interpret this
section to mean that they do not have to genuinely
engage with the children in their schools.

3. • There are now a plethora of national statutory
requirements and guidance documents
requiring children’s services to involve
children and young people.

4. A few examples are:
• It is a right for children and young people to
influence decisions that affect them. This right
is enshrined in the United Nations Convention
on the Rights of the Child (1989) in particular
Article 12 of that Convention.

5. A few examples are:
• Participation is a key theme of
Every Child Matters. (2004)

6. A few examples are:
• Gillick competency and Fraser guidelines (1985)
• Gillick v West Norfolk & Wisbech Area Health Authority
[1985] UKHL 7 (17 October 1985)
• http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKHL/1985/7.html
• "...whether or not a child is capable of giving the necessary
consent will depend on the child’s maturity and
understanding and the nature of the consent required. The
child must be capable of making a reasonable assessment
of the advantages and disadvantages of the treatment
proposed, so the consent, if given, can be properly and
fairly described as true consent."
• http://www.nspcc.org.uk/inform/research/questions/gillick
_wda61289.html

7. A few examples are:
• Section 176 of the Education Act 2002
requires that local education authorities and
school governing bodies refer to statutory
guidance on pupil consultation provided in
“Working Together: Giving children and
young people a say”.

8. A few examples are:
• The Children Act 1989 s.22(4) L.A. must
consider young people’s wishes and feelings.
• The Children Act 2004 legislated for the
appointment of a Children’s Commissioner
with a duty to promote the views and
interests of children and young people.

9. The benefits include:
• Better services by listening and responding to
children as present and future ‘customers’.
• Promoting citizenship (Link?) and social
inclusion. (Link?)
• Personal development for children and young
people.

10. “Building a Culture of Participation”
(2003) DfES
• This research, undertaken by the National
Children’s Bureau (NCB) and PK Research
Consultancy (PKRC), provides an overview of
the range of participation activity being
undertaken at local, regional and national
levels.

11. Conclusive Remarks
• The overarching policy document is UNCRC 1989, especially Article
12 (But there are other relevant Articles too).
• Student Voice sits within a wider agenda of ‘increasing
participation’ within organisations (ie schools).
• The benefits of ‘participation’ has been studied by numerous
studies; including involving University students, employees, primary
and nursery children, service users. (Sherry Arnstein, 1969;
Hart, 1992)
• Participation in schools has been studied since the late 1970’s by
influential researchers such as Jean Rudduck and Audrey Osler.
• The ‘value’ of children’s participation is also related to changing
definitions and reconstructions of ‘childhood’. (James &
Prout, 1990)

12. Some Resources to get you started:
• https://www.education.gov.uk/publications//
eOrderingDownload/DfES-0827-2003.pdf.pdf
• http://www.teachingexpertise.com/topic/stud
ent-voice
• http://www.teachingtimes.com/articles/stude
nt-voice-on-school-councils.htm
• http://www.pupil-voice.org.uk/resources.php