The Rights Respecting Schools Award is a Unicef UK programme that aims to put children’s rights at the heart of schools in the UK. In order to develop a sense of self-efficacy and confidence, pupils need to feel that they have influence and a genuine voice. Pupil participation can happen in a variety of ways and at different levels of school life. Some of these are:
- Having an authentic voice in teaching and learning
- Processes such as circletime, focus groups, and consultations
- Participatory groups such as the class / school council, eco committee, healthy schools and peer mentors, including peer-led approaches
- Having structures in place so that all pupils can be involved in decision-making, including those with additional learning needs