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HCD Student Partnership

Teacher Leadership

University of Cambridge
Faculty of Education

 
Supporting Students as Researchers: making a difference to your school

by Judith Nash and Amanda Roberts

Schools are increasingly concerned to give young people a voice and, following the 'Working Together' guidance from the DCSF in May 2008, it seems likely that this requirement will be reinforced in statute.

Schools will be legally forced to consult pupils on everything from the way they are taught to behaviour and uniform policies under a new law backed by the government this week. The changes will put the trend towards 'pupil voice' firmly in the statute books. (TES, November 14th 2008)

This handbook with accompanying CD, shows how teachers can support students in ccommunicating their views and making a difference to their school. In so doing, it challenges current assumptions, promoting an optimistic view of the potential for young people to impact on school improvement.

The students' research is seen as a journey of seven steps, expressed as a series of questions.

Step 1: What do I want to make a difference to?
Step 2: What information do I need to find out?
Step 3: How will I find this out?
Step 4: How will I organise what I find out?
Step 5: How will I make sense of what I've learned?
Step 6: How will I tell other people about what I've learned?
Step 7: How can I continue to make a difference to my school?

Students use the answers to these questions to design and undertake a research project. Copymasters are provided for student use, together with Teachers' notes and tools to help teachers analyse the impact of the programme on student disposition, school culture and school improvement.

The authors have wide experience of working with teachers and school leaders to effect school improvement through student-centred initiatives. Teachers, school leaders and local authorities will find the guidance offered in this handbook invaluable.

Price: £25.00 plus postage and packing - £2.00 UK/£4.50 Worldwide

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