The heart of the school

The term “Student Voice” is one which has become more and more popular over recent years and all schools are now expected to listen to the views of their pupils. Here at King’s Manor, giving students a voice – and more importantly listening to them – has been a really important part of our whole school development and improvement plan over recent years.

Changing the system

As a Specialist Sports College, in 2004 we became involved in a project called the Aspiring Sports College Project (ASCOP), eventually becoming a national demonstration site. The project was about raising student aspirations through listening to their views and ideas and giving them a real sense of belonging to the school. It was this work which led to the hugely successful House system launch in 2005. This was more than a change in organisation though. Right at the heart of the House system was a commitment to involving pupils in the decision making process and their views and ideas really helped to shape the new system.

Your views count

Following the success of the House system, student voice was extended further and now all Houses and every subject regularly and routinely use student to help review the way they operate and how teaching and learning is delivered. Every year, each area produces posters which clearly set out what the students have said, how the department or House is going to respond and what they need the students to do to support them in this.

Showing that their views really do count in this way encourages students to make their views known – opening up a vitally important conversation between staff and students.

The 2008/09 Surveys can be accessed by clicking here.

The 2009 student surveys are now underway - some are available online via the link on the front page of the website.  Once collated, the results of the surveys will again be published and will form an essential part of our school development plan for 2009/10.

"The more responsibility I was given, the more responsible I became" - Y10 Ambassador 2008