The HCD Student Partnership and Leadership for Learning for The General Teaching Council for England

The General Teaching Council for England contracted the HCD Student Partnership (part of the Leadership for Learning team) at the University of Cambridge Faculty of Education to carry out qualitative research as part of the GTC’s wider policy work on personalising pupil learning.

In April 2007 the GTC published advice to government, including a recommendation that the government, its agencies and schools seek to improve and embed dialogue with pupils. This dialogue should enable children and young people to play an active role in their learning, schooling and education, making their needs and interests known.

About the research

The research took place between March and June 2008 at 22 schools in six regions. Schools were recruited in each of the following areas: London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Birmingham, Knowsley and Gateshead. In each area there was a ‘Consultation and Research Group’. This included pupils, teachers and other adults from primary, secondary and special schools and pupil referral units.

Pupils, teachers and other adults were consulted about pupils’ influence on decision-making in their learning through a range of active and interactive tasks and then engaged in a research process to investigate further their school’s strategies for enabling pupils to influence their own learning. A short survey about participation and influence was also undertaken in a selection of the participating schools.

The final report was published on the GTC website in December 2008 and can be accessed here.