Showcase

​​​​Issues identified by students:

Click on the image below to read the issues students identified in more detail. ​

Issues_Identified_low res.jpg ​


 ​Student perspectives of Student Voice in Action in BCE: 

At the 2020 Festival of Ideas student delegates explored the 3 key elements of student voice:

  • how these elements are currently implemented in schools

  •  the challenges to achieving them

  • Hopes and dreams on how it could be in the future


Here is what delegates shared: 






​​What current examples of this do you see in schools? 
​What are the current challenges to achieve this in schools? 
​What are your future hopes and dreams of how this could happen in schools? 
Accepting responsibility for not only what you say but what needs to be done
  • ​Student or college representative councils (SRCs/CRCs)
  • Student leadership (Year 12 captains)
  • Peer mentoring / Big Sister programs
  • Community groups (over many year levels) (gender split groups)
  • Principals and staff accept responsibility
  • Sporting days run by students
  • Student-run extra-curricular​ activities​​
  • Development built into PCs
  • Student run activities (e.g. tech free Tuesdays)
  • Opportunities for student input events (e.g. mini Festival of Ideas)​

  • ​Leaders may not do enough (status-based elections)
  • Tokenistic movements
  • Complaints of students about problems caused by them
  • Teachers/staff not listening
  • Complaints about things that can't change but not helping themselves to cope
  • Student wellbeing isn't considered
  • Division between what students want and what happens
  • Staff take student ideas but don't let students later participate/organise
  • Student clubs are organised/run by staff
  • Staff views are pushed on students
  • Overt discrimination / lack of respect
  • No student-led activities/clubs
  • No team/committee to put forward student ideas
  • ​​Students listened to
  • Connections to make change
  • Form new relationships
  • ​Students are taught how to contribute in an effective way
  • EVERY student has the opportunity to voice their opinion
  • Sense of inclusivity
  • Everyone steps up and accepts responsibility
  • Teachers let students take responsibility
  • No complaints; just working effectively
  • Voice not noise
  • Everyone displays open-mindedness
  • Every age and voice is equally respected 
  • Students mingle openly (buddy system / advice)

Offering realistic suggestions and expectations for the good of the whole
  • ​SRCs/CRCs
  • Class captains, student leadership
  • Students take charge of the solution
  • Build student clubs in collaboration with teachers
  • Encourage student participation when students run school events
  • Containers for Change
  • Communication – better means

  • ​CYBERBULLYING
  • Offered suggestions don't always happen
  • Staff not following through 
  • Clubs are not open to all
  • COMMITMENT from schools, students and staff
  • Student division; doesn't feel inclusive
  • Gathering voice to get ideas heard
  • POPULARITY within students
  • Teachers telling students what to say/do
  • Reluctance to share ideas
  • Admin team's involvement
  • Respect – others/opinions
  • Hard to get things going
  • Communication between students, parents and schools
  • Students' wellbeing

  • ​Suggestions are making an impact 
  • Improvements at school
  • Engagement
  • Voice is heard and Ideas put into action
  • Openly speak up without being judged by peers and staff members
  • Greenery at school
  • Student not being a bystander
  • Everyone feels safe
  • There are opportunities to be heard using different platforms/methods 

Sharing genuine thoughts, ideas and opinions in an environment underpinned by trust and respect
  • ​​SRCs/CRCs
  • Class discussions/debates
  • Student discussions
  • School/class captains
  • Guidance counsellors aren't necessarily helping
  • Classroom environment isn't created on the basis of trust 
  • SRCs are voted based on status and not necessarily ability or passion to lead 

  • ​​Intimidating to raise ideas
  • Age/power/division
  • No link between voice and action
  • Lot of stages to be heard
  • Stigma
  • Teachers/students voting for leadership isn't fair
  • Not a lot of action – SRCs/CRCs
  • Hard to put hand up
  • Teachers' opinions
  • No say
  • Discouraged
  • Inaccessible – people not interested
  • lack of trust 

  • ​Being engaged in general
  • Voice put into action instantly
  • Suggestion boxes: student voices are taken into consideration
  • Student/teacher councils
  • Having a balance between popular/outgoing leaders and those that actually do the work
  • Platform for students to put hand up confidentiality
  • Acknowledge that you are allowed to have an opinion
  • Revamping SRC/CRC
  • Committed
  • SRC program like Festival of ​ Ideas – Teaching noise and voice

 

Showcase your school:

We want to showcase the great things happening around student voice, agency and participation in BCE schools.  Contact us to start a conversation about how we can showcase your school on this site! 

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