 We are passionate about Student Voice at Longbenton Community College. We know that giving students the chance to express their views and effect change is a major factor in improving teaching and learning and in promoting inclusion. Our vision for Student Voice is for it to build bridges and increase inclusion both within school and in the local community. We also want our students to grow up aware of and involved in the democratic process locally and globally.Student Voice at Longbenton works in different ways. A big part of it is our Student Council which has been very influential in the last couple of years. Student Council Representatives are responsible for making sure the viewpoints of the whole student body are heard by staff, the local community and the Local Authority and for reporting back to the student body about what has changed.
Longbenton students aged 13-19 are invited once a year, along with other North Tyneside students, to stand as North Tyneside Youth Council Representatives and North Tyneside Young Mayor. Last year we were very proud to have a member of our school, Matthew Mason, on the Youth Council. In subjects, selected students are responsible for feeding back their ideas and concerns about the curriculum to their teachers. This might be done by students taking part in surveys or just by having a chance to meet with their teachers in an informal setting for a chat.
The following are just some of the changes student voice has recently made: • Food in the canteen e.g. Pasta King; deli-bar style sandwiches • Going in for lunch on ‘sittings’ – decreasing crowding in the canteen • The Behaviour for Learning system, including changes to C3s and C4s • How lessons are taught – some topics and activities have been added, some have been scrapped – due to Student Voice • The number and placement of litter bins in the local community – we now have extra litter bins in and around Forest Hall and on Hailsham Avenue • What goes into the student planner • How North Tyneside Council deal with anti-social behaviour • The condition of parks and leisure areas in North Tyneside • Making local businesses more aware of the environment • Getting paper recycling inside the gates of the school • Working with Age Concern • Bringing back the Talent Show back |
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Student Voice |
Each year, Longbenton Community College holds a Student Council Conference which is a brilliant chance for students to give areas of special concern extra focus and discussion.