Student voice is seen by many as a desirable inclusion in schools, seeking the voice of students to gather feedback on school climate or initiatives. However, occasionally seeking the voices of students does not suggest a true partnership with students. To truly connect and empower students we need to move beyond sharing ideas to sharing responsibility and working together to create, cultivate and collaborate to achieve our shared goals. Beginning with a shared definition of voice, the school voice process looks at how teachers listen to, learn from and lead with students on a daily basis to share responsibility for teaching and learning. Empowering students means giving them the tools and opportunities to take charge of their learning journey. This empowerment can lead to increased confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning. This presentation introduces the School Voice Process, a deliberate process of connecting teachers and students as partners in the daily teaching and learning cycle. Participants will learn how schools have deliberately integrated the School Voice Process to build respect and trust between students and teachers. By implementing and sustaining explicit strategies across the school, they have created a sustainable climate of a collaborative community.
The School Voice Process involves:
Creating Safe Spaces: Establishing an environment where students feel safe to express their opinions and ideas without fear of judgment or repercussions.
Recognising and respecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of students, ensuring that their voices are heard and valued.
Making deliberate pedagogical decisions to activate student voices within the teaching and learning cycle to ensure student voice is not just a token, an add on or a survey.
Working with students to set goals, ensuring that they have a say in what they want to achieve and how they plan to get there.
Learning from students about what is and isn’t supportive of their learning and wellbeing. Using iterative cycles of data analysis and problem solving with students.
Building student capabilities and confidence to accept responsibility to lead their own learning.
Reflective Practices: Encourage students to reflect on their learning experiences, helping them to identify their strengths, areas for improvement, and future goals.
In a rapidly evolving world where leading your own learning is a vital mindset and skill, the School Voice Process creates a culture of authentic partnership between students and teachers. Every student has a voice, but teachers must authentically seek to activate each voice as a vital partner in daily practice. This presentation will invite participants to think critically about how they partner with students to inspire and create learning and the role of students in the teaching and learning cycle.
Student voice and agency is not something given to students but is activated by a genuine desire to partner with and empower every student. By connecting with students, sharing responsibilities, and empowering them to co-create their educational experiences, we can foster a culture of mutual respect, trust, and excellence.
Sue Bryen
Sue Bryen is passionate about learning and equity of access to high quality learning. She has been a teacher, instructional leader and principal, and has over 30 years experience as an educator in both the UK and Australia. Working in a variety of schools from large urban schools to small rural schools, Sue chose to spend the majority of her career in rural and regional areas and schools serving disadvantaged populations. In 2017 Sue moved into the field of professional learning, working with hundreds of school teams across Australia, translating research-informed practice into contextually relevant processes and actions. Her role at the Quaglia Institute as Director of Learning Services–Australia provides Sue with the opportunity to design and present professional learning which enhances student and teacher voice across schools and systems throughout Australia.
Sue spends her free time walking, reading and enjoying the outdoor environment with friends and her dog.