Webinar: Pupil voice and agency in primary schools
What is the purpose of this webinar?
This webinar is part of a series around curriculum enrichment in primary schools as part of the extensive Rethinking Curriculum project. This series aims to support and equip both teachers and school leaders with the knowledge and skills to identify, plan and implement curriculum development work in a sustainable, creative and impactful way.
Who is this webinar aimed at?
This webinar will be particularly valuable to primary teachers, those involved in curriculum design more broadly, and all educators who want to learn about a curriculum centred around promoting pupil voice and agency.
What does the webinar explore?
In this webinar, school leaders, expert practitioners and consultants – Alison Body, Karl Cross, Rachel Tomlinson and Emmanuel Awoyelu – share insights and experiences about implementing a curriculum that is informed by and/or promotes pupil voice and agency.
How could I use this webinar to support my team?
This webinar could be re-watched with your school leadership or teaching teams to develop a shared understanding of this approach. We have prepared some reflective questions that could be used to inform discussions and begin to consider what this might look like in your context.
The webinar has been edited split into the following sections:
- 0.15 – Dr. Alison Body, Senior Lecturer in Social Policy at the University of Kent, explores the value of promoting pupil voice and agency and shares some of the key findings of her research.
- 16.40 – Karl Cross, Learning Standards Lead at Barrowford Primary School, and Rachel Tomlinson, Headteacher of Barrowford Primary School, share their experience designing and implementing a curriculum that promotes pupil voice and agency.
- 31.57 – Emmanuel Awoyelu, InclusionAn approach where a school aims to ensure that all children are educated together, with support for those who require it to access the full curriculum and contribute to and participate in all aspects of school life Specialist and Director of The Reach Out Project, explores what we mean by ‘pupil voice’ and ‘pupil agency’ and provides practical suggestions to effectively adopt this approach in your setting.
- 42.47 – A Q&A session to further explore the challenges, opportunities and practicalities of introducing and implementing a curriculum that promotes pupil voice and agency.
As you watch the webinar, you may wish to note down insights that build on your understanding of this work.
You may wish to consider:
- What is your current understanding of ‘pupil voice’ and ‘pupil agency’ in your setting? Is there anything you would add or adapt about your definitions in light of the learning?
- What principles and practices resonate with your current understanding and application of a curriculum centred around pupil agency?
- How have the presentations shifted your current thinking around pupil voice and agency? How could this inform your approach going forward?
- Why do you think a pupil voice and agency could be particularly important for the students in your context
- What are the challenges of adopting this approach? How have the presenters attempted to overcome these?
- What are your key takeaways from the webinar?
- Are there any further questions you have about introducing, implementing or refining your current approach?
