“Healthy citizens are the greatest asset any country can have."

-Winston Churchill

The past fortnight the world has gotten some very promising news. After months of living through a pandemic, including multiple lockdowns and being asked to keep away from loved-ones, an end is in sight. Multiple vaccines have been announced to be highly effective in stimulating an immune response safely - and upon government approval can be given to the public. The UK government came out this week and approved a vaccine, telling healthcare providers to prepare to start distributing doses within the next few weeks. While the government has its own announced plan for who should receive the vaccine first, we proposed to our member schools a Symphony Question asking young people who they thought should be given the vaccine first.

After what we are sure were great discussions with various types of reasoning for their answers, this is what young people had to say regarding that prioritization ….

Question: Now we know there are successful Covid-19 vaccines, who do you think should get them first and why?

National result:

Result: The elderly and more vulnerable should be vaccinated first.

Young people resoundingly said that the elderly should be vaccinated first - with over 54% of groups choosing this option. In a very distant second was sick people, followed closely by NHS Staff.

Of those who participated a few said key workers should be prioritized, and a few voted for children.

What can we learn from these results?

Young people want to prioritise the health and safety of those who are vulnerable.

While we are sure there are various reasons that pupils expressed the above opinions, the overarching consensus was that those who are vulnerable to Covid-19, the elderly and sick people alike, should be given the vaccine before anyone else. At Smart School Councils, we believe this speaks to young people’s ability to put others before themselves. It’s very easy to vote for your own interests, to vote that you receive something beneficial before anyone else - but young people did not do that. They realise that Covid-19 poses a greater threat to older people and people who are sick, and have resoundingly said that those who are vulnerable should be helped first.

Starting a discussion with young people about questions facing the world as the pandemic progresses = is extremely important. We’re so proud of our member schools who are continuing to foster an environment to have these discussion and giving encouragement to all pupils to use their voice.

Looking back at the term in school, which of these has helped you the most?

This Autumn Term has been unlike any other in recent memory. It has felt like it has both flown by and also moved slowly. Schools around the world have been working tirelessly to ensure a safe environment for learning, and teachers and school staff have gone above and beyond during these times. As Autumn Term wraps up in the next two weeks, and schools go on Christmas holidays, we are proposing a reflective question for next week.

We’re asking for students to think about what has been the most helpful to them during the past term. We look forward to seeing what the results will be next week with this question, and propose the options of: someone helping you learn, someone having fun with you, someone showing they care, and someone challenging you to be better .

Following the successful trial of this form in our General Election Question Series, for 2020 we’ll be recommending a blend of action-led & topical questions to ask each week.

Want to get involved or suggest a question? Send us an email at membership@smartschoolcouncils.org.uk