Downland School

Aspire, Achieve and Thrive

Pupil Voice

Elections

With an inspiring link to citizenship, an election process is followed for pupils to become members of Pupil Voice. Tutors encourage pupils to volunteer as Pupil Voice candidates in readiness for an election to take place within the first few weeks of September, each academic year. Nominations are discussed during tutor time; reasons why they would make a good representative, what issues are important to them, and whether they feel confident in coming to meetings to discuss these issues. A representative for each tutor group is selected based on these discussions. Photographs of all representatives are displayed in reception, along with the minutes of each meeting.

 

Meetings

Pupil Voice meetings take place during lesson 1 on a Monday, once a term, chaired by Miss Robinson (one of our Pastoral Managers). All staff and pupils are asked prior to the meetings for any items they wish to discuss and put forward for the agenda. Miss Robinson then distributes an agenda to the whole school; tutor groups pass on their views on the items listed via their group representative, who discuss matters in depth during the meetings. Staff who are not a part of a tutor group can also respond to this agenda. 

After each meeting, the minutes are distributed to all tutor groups for discussion and feedback, along with a response from Mrs Keily-Theobald to matters raised.

 

Successes

The Pupil Voice has had a number of recent successes, including:

  • Reducing plastic waste by using washable cups at break time instead of plastic disposable cups
  • Recycling paper and cardboard using the specific bins provided by Wiltshire Council
  • Updating the lunch menu with more popular, but still healthy options
  • Planning special events in school
  • Changing the lunch sittings so that pupils can be with their friends in their own year group
  • Year 10 pupils now wear black uniform, the same as Year 11, as they transition into KS4
  • Lowering the rewards percentage from 100% to 75% in their weekly points to give pupils more opportunity to receive those rewards

 

Future Events

The Pupil Voice hopes to:

  • Organise ‘Wear your own clothes’ on your birthday initiative
  • Bring back whole school ‘celebration’ assemblies
  • Purchase new play equipment for outside
  • Plan after-school clubs
  • Arrange more seating outside, in shaded areas for the summer