Belfast Model School for Girls

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Belfast Model School for Girls
Student Voice
Helping to change community aspirations
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Format of Presentation

• School Context/ Overview J Graham
• Student Voice so far H Mairs
• Student Voice Training Haileigh Harris
• Learning Partners Rebekah Kirk
• Student Leadership Top Link/Dreams and Teams
  Sheena Mann
• Future Developments J Graham

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School Context

• 1000 girls ages 11 19
• Greater Shankill, North Belfast, Newtownabbey
• Non-selective within Grammar School context
• Vocational / Academic Balance
• 40 Free School meals
• Average 44 5A- C GCSE (2005-2008)
• 180 in 6th form
• Specialist School in ICT Sept 2006
• Full Service Extended School Jan 2007

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School Vision

• Focus on Pupils
• Achievement for ALL
• Barriers to Learning
• Support Mechanisms

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Pupil Support Team

• Personal Development Mentor
• School Counsellor
• School Nurse
• Coursework Clinic
• After Schools Club
• Classroom Assistants
• Educational Support Unit
• Pupil Support Unit
• Other Full Service School Support Agencies

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Community Profile

• Culture of not valuing education
• Male dominated society
• Low aspirations
• Insularity
• Political apathy
• Benefit reliance
• Paramilitarism- Loyalist Feud
• Mental Health/Stress/Trauma Issues
• Future not in own hands

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Recent Developments

• Shankill Womans Centre/FASA/Falls Community
  Council
• Greater emphasis on education
• Educational role-models
• Broadening horizons
• Awareness of political clout-C.E.P.s
• Importance of gaining employment
• Peace dividend- Neighbourhood Renewal
• Counselling/Mediation Services e.g. Contact Youth
• Involvement in shaping own future

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Student Voice

• Building capacity in community
• Building confidence
• Increasing awareness of empowerment
• Involvement in own learning
• Leadership opportunities

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Student Voice So Far

• Introduction and development of Student Voice
• SSAT Conference 2006
• School Council pre 2006
• What is Student Voice (SV) in Girls Model
• Searching for the real Student Voice
• Examples of success

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Student Council Teams
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Virtual Learning Environment
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Structure of Student Voice
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Student Voice Leadership Team (SVLT)
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Role of SVLT

• Represent the student body
• Elected by peers
• Meet regularly
• Set agendas for student council meetings
• Interview for various student posts
• Peer Mediators
• Trained by ALTERNATIVES group
• Chid protection
• Work with year 8 students
• B.I.T.
• Conflict management
• Low level behaviour
• Bullying incidents
• Target setting

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Student Voice So Far

• School Development Plan
• SVLT input
• monitoring and evaluating
• Best Practice
• SVLT presented to various audiences in Northern
  Ireland
• School visits

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Student Voice Training

• Toms Training
• Funding
• Learning Partners
• Research
• Transition
• Bullying

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Where Bullying Occurs
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Student Voice Training

• Toms Training
• Funding
• Learning Partners
• Research
• Transition
• Bullying
• Skirt Poll, Make-up
• How pupils/teachers can make the lesson better

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How can students contribute to making a Good
lesson?

• Examples of what students said
• Respect for teachers and other pupils
• Good behaviour so that everyone can learn
• Allowing everyone to participate by not shouting
  out
• Dont distract the teacher by inappropriate
  remarks or poor behaviour
• Think of others in the class and not just yourself

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How can teachers contribute to making a Good
lesson?

• Examples of what students said
• Explain work so that everyone understands
• Dont shout all the time
• Badly behaved pupils should be taken from the
  class
• Better rewards for pupils who do well
• Girls are given too many chances if they are
  badly behaved

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Student Voice Training

• Partnership with teachers
• August Baker Days
• - Teacher training
• Connection between SVLT and teachers
• Focuses
• Behaviour
• Rewards
• Comparison of group work Vs individual work in a
  Yr 8 gym lesson

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Young leaders

• Top Link
• Management Team
• Dreams and Teams
• Set Up
• Sports Festivals
• Sri Lanka Visit to Girls Model
• Girls Model Visit to Sri Lanka
• Student Voice Feedback

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Sri Lanka October 2008
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What next?

• Student Voice/ Parent Voice
• Enhance Student Voice links with community groups
• Encourage more marginalised students to become
  involved
• Primary School Student Voice
• Train Student Voice Leaders from other schools
• Student Voice involvement in other School
  Strategic Teams

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Student Voice in Belfast Model School for Girls
develops leadership which will drive community
aspirations in the future.