A Success Story from Admirals and Raleigh Academy
As we continue our journey through the new academic year, we're thrilled to share a remarkable success story from Admirals and Raleigh Academy, a part of Eastern Multi-Academy Trust.
In Spring Term 2024, we had the pleasure of hearing directly from Mark King, the Academy’s Lead Teacher and Year 6 Intervention Teacher, about how the Smart School Councils programme has transformed their school environment.
Inspiration and Initial Steps
The journey began when the Executive Principal, Mr. Greg Sadler, inspired by seeing Smart School Councils in action at another primary school, decided to implement it at Admirals and Raleigh Academy. With a shared vision of enhancing pupil voice, the school took initial steps by launching Smart School Councils with a dynamic assembly that captivated students and spurred a surge of interest. The response was overwhelming, with many eager to get involved.
Here's how the programme has made a difference and how it’s been implemented:
1. Boosting Student Confidence and Responsibility
The democratic, student-led approach of Smart School Councils has had a profound effect on the children. Students have embraced their roles with enthusiasm, feeling valued and important. The opportunity to choose roles that align with their personalities has significantly boosted their confidence and self-esteem. They are excited about finding and addressing questions from their peers, and they relish being in control of their school environment.
2. Visible Changes in the School
In just two terms, the Smart School Councils programme has led to these substantial improvements:
Curriculum Adjustments: Student feedback has directly influenced changes to the curriculum.
Enhanced Break Times: A daily tuck shop for Key Stage 2 and new opportunities for inter-year group mingling.
Expanded After-School Activities: Increased options for clubs and private music lessons.
Outdoor Play Improvements: Upgraded play areas and new equipment based on student requests.
3. Mixed-Age Group Meetings: A Unique Approach
The introduction of mixed-age group meetings, or House teams, was a creative solution to integrate a new format into their existing structure. These meetings, which happen weekly, have fostered a sense of community and encouraged interaction among students of different ages. This ‘mini parliament’ setup has been a hit, with students learning to discuss, debate, and vote on various issues together.
Advice for Other Schools
For schools considering the Smart School Councils programme, Mark King offers three valuable pieces of advice:
Leverage Pupil Voice: Embrace the rich feedback from students to support school evaluations and personal development.
Celebrate Student Input: Show students that their opinions matter by implementing their suggestions and making visible changes based on their feedback.
Promote Tolerance and Compromise: Use the Smart School Councils platform to teach students about expressing opinions respectfully and working collaboratively.
A Bright Future Ahead
The success story of Admirals and Raleigh Academy highlights the transformative power of the Smart School Councils programme. By valuing and implementing student feedback, the school has created a more inclusive and responsive environment. We hope this inspires some of our other member schools in their own journeys to truly reflect the voices of their students.
Big thanks to Mark King and the entire team at Admirals and Raleigh Academy for sharing your inspiring journey with us. Here’s to a new school year filled with continued growth and success!
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