At Copperfield Academy we recognise a child’s right to be heard (unicef, Article 12) and value the children’s views on all aspects of school life where possible. We recognise our role as duty-bearers to ensure that all children feel that they are respected, listened to and valued as individuals and as a collective group.
We teach the children that it is their right to express their thoughts and opinions (unicef, Article 13) and that the best interests of the children are a top priority in everything that affects them (Article 3).
How we encourage pupil voice at our school:
Pupil Parliament meet regularly to discuss areas for school improvement or ideas for events. The outcomes from these meetings and regularly published on the Pupil Parliament display in the main hall for all children to see.
Prefects – Year 6 are trained to be peer mediators to help to solve disagreements between peers on the playground.
Play leaders and sports leaders – This involves children running games at lunchtimes and organising and supporting school sporting events.
Pupil Questionnaires – we regularly ask our pupils to complete questionnaires to recognise areas of strength and development within the school.
Anti-bullying ambassadors – we have a group of children from Years 4, 5 and 6 who are trained anti-bullying ambassadors through the Diana Award.
Pupil Voice Post-box – we have a post-box in the school where children can post their ideas for events and areas for development. These ideas are then discussed at the beginning of each steering group meeting.