The Project to Date

 

What have we done?

Between 2007 and 2009 Children in Scotland, working in partnership with the University of Edinburgh, conducted the most

comprehensive study of pupil councils throughout Scotland ever undertaken. With funding from the BIG Lottery Research

Fund, we carried out major surveys of local authorities and schools. We received

and analysed more than 1,000 completed surveys from education officials, pupil council members and the school staff
members advising them.

We also undertook in-depth research and written case studies on a small number of diverse pupil councils serving

rural, urban, primary, secondary, special and independent schools across our nation. These were based upon observations

and interviews with children, young people and staff members.

 

The Advisory Group

Throughout the project, we consulted with our advisory group to ensure that our work was informed by the knowledge

and experience of those with an interest in pupil councils. We extend our thanks to

the members of the Advisory Group which included:

Andrea Priestly, Education Development Officer, Save the Children

Ann Brown, General manager, Scottish Youth Parliament

Elisabeth Morrison, HMIE

Hazel Aitken, Stanmore House School, Capability Scotland

Ian Storrie, COSLA

Jane Liddell, Association of Directors of Education in Scotland

Jen Wallace, Policy Manager: Education, Housing and Local Government, Scottish Consumer Council

Jenny Ozga, Chair of Educational Research, University of Edinburgh

Julie Allan, Professor of Education, University of Stirling

Lisa Hanna, Learning and Teaching Scotland

Marion Lawrence, Association of Head Teachers and Deputes in Scotland

Marianne Mcguire, Quality Improvement Officer, Renfrewshire Council

Mike Gallagher, Research Fellow, University of Edinburgh

Rachel Hill, Stanmore House School, Capability Scotland

Sara O’Loan, Strategic Programmes Manager, LGBT Youth Scotland

Sheila Hamilton, Research Manager, Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People

Sonia Kordiak, EIS (Educational Institute of Scotland)

Tania Smith, Deputy Director, Scottish Council of Independent Schools

Former Pupil Council Members from:   Our Lady's High School, Cumbernauld and Liberton Primary School, Edinburgh

A Survey of local authorities

Officers from all 32 local authorities in Scotland completed a questionnaire survey in 2007.

The answers enabled us to detail local authority practice in relation to the following areas:

• policies on pupil councils
• training or other forms of support for staff working with pupil councils and for pupil council members
• the involvement of pupil councils in local authority education planning
• the links between pupil councils in individual schools and at cluster and authority wide levels
• the monitoring and evaluation of pupil councils at a local level

 

Surveys of schools across Scotland

In June 2007 two questionnaire surveys on pupil councils (one for a member staff to complete, and the other for the

members of the pupil council) were posted to:

• All state secondary schools
• All state special schools
• All independent and grant-aided schools (other than pre-school)
• A representative sample of state primary schools

The answers enabled us to map what was happening in schools across Scotland in relation to:

• the remit for pupil councils
• how pupil councils work
• what training is provided for pupils or staff
• whether pupil councils have budgets
• the extent to which the activities of pupil council in individual schools have resulted in changes
• any links which may exist between the pupil council in individual schools and with other forms of pupil participation

            in decision-making, and with the school’s management structure

 

Case studies of pupil councils

Between September 2007 and June 2008 case studies were conducted of pupil councils within six schools:

• Small state SECONDARY school located in a ‘remote rural’ area. Low economic deprivation (under 12.79% Free School Meals)

             and Low Ethnic Minority Population (0-5%)

• Small state PRIMARY school located in an ‘accessible rural’ area. Low economic deprivation (under12.79% FSM). Medium low

             Ethnic Minority Population (5-10%)

• Small INDEPENDENT SPECIAL school (all age, taking pupils from different local authorities). Located in an ‘other urban’ area.

             Low economic deprivation (under 12.79% FSM). Ethnic Minority Population not listed.

• Medium-sized INDEPENDENT SECONDARY school located in a ‘four city’ area. Low economic deprivation (under 12.79% FSM).

             Ethnic Minority Population not listed.

• LARGE state SECONDARY school located in a ‘four city’ area. HIGH economic deprivation (over 12.80% FSM).

             Low Ethnic Minority Population (0-5%)

• Medium-sized state PRIMARY school located in a ‘four city’ area. High economic deprivation (over 12.80%).

             Medium-high Ethnic Minority Population (10-30%)

 

In each of these schools the following work was undertaken:

1. An anonymous questionnaire survey of pupils involved in the pupil council, to find out about their experiences.

2. Interviews with one or two key adult decision makers who have been nominated by the pupils involved in the pupil council.

3. Two focus group discussions with the members of the pupil councils.

The first of which explored the member’s views of:

• The workings of pupil council meetings
• The fairness of the selection procedure for pupil council members
• The achievements of the previous year’s pupil council and their hopes for the coming year

 

The second of which explored the member’s views of:

• The achievements of this year’s pupil council
• The role of the main pupil council teacher and other teachers
• The impact of the pupil council having, or of not having a budget

 

In-depth case studies of pupil councils

In the two of the six schools, one state primary and one state secondary, more detailed work was also undertaken. This included:

Tracking the work of the pupil council over an 8 month period which involved:

• collecting written documents and minutes
• observing the workings of the pupil council meetings

 

Undertaking a questionnaire survey of children and young people who were not involved in the pupil council, that year,

to find out:

• how they perceived the pupil council
• how they interacted with it
• why they were not involved

 

Project Findings

Results show pupil councils differ in how they are set up and run, but that they can be a vital link in the chain of decision making within a school,

giving students a real voice in improving school life.

Five Research Briefings on the report findings are available by clicking here

 

The results were also communicated to pupils in a comic book, Councils of the Galaxy, sent to every school in Scotland in May 2010.

Contact the artist

The Illustrator and co-author of the comic book, Tobias Cook can be reached via his website:
www.tobiascook.com

 

 

 

 

 

Liberton Primary School, Edinburgh

 

 

Why this project?     The project’s objectives    The findings
Get in touch with us

From 2007 to 2009, Children in Scotland and the University of Edinburgh carried out a three year research project on pupil councils in Scotland. This project was funded by the Big Lottery Fund.