Developing Learner Voice in Oakdale Comprehensive School

A lesson audit was carried out in the school.

Staff had been told that sometime over a fortnight period pupils would answer a questionnaire focusing on a single lesson they had attended but exact timings were not given.
On Monday the 10th of November in the last few minutes of lesson 1 the questionnaires were delivered to the classrooms.
On arrival to lesson 2 every pupil in school that day completed the questionnaire focusing on their experience in lesson 1.
Because of the way this process was carried out it was a true reflection of quality of the teaching and learning in Oakdale from the prospective of the pupils.

There were three sections to the questionnaire:

• The structure of the lesson;
• Perceived lesson outcomes
• Relationships between staff and pupils and how teachers are perceived.

The data was analysed and a non-judgemental report was produced. All staff were given a copy of the report. It generated much discussion in the staff room and was an agenda point in curriculum area meetings.

The Student Voice Group

In January 2011 the student voice group was fomed. It consists of nine pupils from year 7 to 10. We are a sub group of the student council, members of which are elected by their forms.

We meet for three sessions. Each session had a clear focus:

• What are the qualities of a good teacher;
• What makes a good lesson;
• What gets in the way of their learning in class and what helps them to learn.

During each session the students discussed the focus and created a poster on the theme. These posters were displayed in the staff room on the teaching and learning notice board. A report detailing these posters was distributed to all staff.

In March 2011 we produced a DVD summarising the student voice findings. This DVD was shown to all pupils during Assemblies taken by our Deputy Head. Staff attend assemblies along with their forms, this ensured that all staff and pupils viewed the findings and it was clear to pupils that staff had seen the DVD.

The feedback from the pupils has been very positive, many have commented on their empathy towards the views expressed; for example one pupil said ‘The DVD was really good because they were saying what we all think.’