Learning to Lead
Learning to Lead is an approach to Pupil Participation I have recently come across and feel very excited about. Below is a bit of information from their website and link to it. We are thinking of doing some training here in Cornwall with them. Let us know if you are interested.
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 school communities.
The last five years have been dedicated to creating a model of school council to address this need, so that students can 'self-elect' 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 do we do it?
Every student involved has a concern or interest; Learning to Lead empowers each individual to identify what they care about and act upon it.
We provide each student with a day's training to enable them to work collaboratively towards their ambition and become a member of the school council.
When trained, the students meet and run meetings each week in teams to plan their activities.
In this process they learn:
- team working 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
More about Learning to Lead, including our plans to bring it to Cornwall. |
