Having a say
The participation of children and young people in adult decision-making has
shot up the policy agenda in recent years. The UN Convention on
the Rights of Child, which the Scottish Executive is committed
to implementing, includes rights of participation. In Scotland, it
has become common for children and young people to be consulted on policies
and services affecting them. Increasingly, this is reflected in legislation.
Having a say at school
In 2000, Scotland led the UK in enshrining children's and young people's rights
to participate within education law. The Standards in Scotland’s Schools
etc. Act 2000 requires education authorities to have regard to a pupil’s
views in decisions that significantly affect that pupil in relation to his
or her school education. The participation of young people in decision-making,
at both classroom and whole school level, is now seen as an essential element
in citizenship education. It is a key part of Education for Citizenship
in Scotland, the Scottish national framework for education for citizenship
for young people aged 3-18.
Pupil councils
Pupil councils have become the key structure for children and young people’s
participation at school. Yet currently, there is no systematic evidence
about their effectiveness. Are they working? For whom? In
what ways? Are they having a significant impact on decision-making? Who
is being included or excluded? This study aims to address these questions.
