Taking participation forward?
Kay Tisdall, k.tisdall@ed.ac.uk
Programme Director of MSc in Childhood Studies, University of
Edinburgh
Co-Director CRFR
What do we mean by participation?
“This term has evolved and is now widely
used to describe ongoing processes, which
include information-sharing and dialogue
between children and adults based on
mutual respect, and in which children can
learn how their views and those of adults are
taken into account and shape the outcome
of such processes.”
UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (2009) General Comment No.
12, p. 3.
Space: children must
be given the
opportunity to express
views
Voice: children must
be facilitated to
express their views
Influence: the views
must be acted upon,
Audience: the views
must be listened to
as appropriate.
Lundy, L. (2007),’‘Voice’ is not enough: conceptualising Article 12 of the United Nations Convention
on the Rights of the Child’. British Educational Research Journal, 33(6), 927-942.
Turning to the person next to you …
Share an activity in your school (or setting)
that supports children and young people’s
participation.
Taking Laura’s model …
What works? What doesn’t work?
Challenges for participation
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Tokenism
Lack of feedback
Who is included or excluded
Consultation but not dialogue
Adults processes and structures exclude
children and young people
6. Lack of sustainability
From ESRC project – see www.crfr.ac.uk
Why support children and young
people’s participation in schools?
(1) Upholding children’s rights and fulfilling legal
responsibilities. UNCRC, Standards in Scotland’s
Schools etc. Act 2000 S. 2(2), Children & Young People
Bill?
(2) Improving services and decision-making.
(3) Democratic education.
(4) Children and young people’s well-being and
development.
Making rights real …
“We want a Scotland where the rights of
children and young people are not just
recognised, but rooted deep in our society
and our public services. A nation that strives
to make these rights real in our everyday
lives.”
Minister for Children & Young People in Scottish
Government (2012) A Scotland for Children: A
consultation on the Children and Young People Bill
What are school/ pupil councils?
“A school council is a representative group
of pupils elected by their peers to discuss
matters about their education and raise
concerns with the senior managers and
governors of their school.”
School Councils Wales
http://www.schoolcouncilswales.org.uk/en/fe/page_at.as
p?n1=30&n2=31&n3=69
A typical meeting
from the Having
a Say at School
research project
…
Artwork copyright of Tobias Cook
Text from Children in Scotland and
Tobias Cook, as part of the Having
a Say at School project
(CRFR/Children in Scotland).
Councils of the Galaxy.
• Pivotal role of adult adviser. How is this
supported?
• Purpose of council unclear and not agreed
“The problem is with the School Council. It
appears very good and it looks very good
and everyone thinks it works well, but then
we say things and we have ideas and they
don’t go anywhere.” (School councillor
School B)
‘Laboratory of democracy’
– A great deal of time
– When selection is fair, councils more likely to
be perceived as effective
– Pupils not on councils want more information
about their councils and what happens
– The downside … matching purposes?
“… I think the process in itself is worthwhile.
Whereas for them [the school council] it’s
probably the outcomes; it’s in their mind. But if
we can get them some of their outcomes and
allow them to take part in the process at the
same time, I think that’s a reasonable tradeoff.” (Headteacher School A)
• Governance. What connections are there
with power in the school?
• Outcomes. What do school councils
discuss, make a decision on and do
changes result?
• The power of money. Does the school
council have a budget?
A selection of possible
recommendations …
• Ensure council elections ensure council elections are
(and are perceived as) fair
• Recognise and reward the school council’s adult adviser
• Tighten the connections between school councils and
school governance structures.
• Continued dialogue between staff and pupils on what
their school council is for
• Continuing across academic years
• Budgets
• Improved communication between school councils and
others in the school
• All staff members being committed to the school council
Opportunities for participation ...
1. Government commitment
2. Enthusiasm of the converted
3. Creative, inclusive and productive
approaches
4. Use of technology.
From ESRC project – see www.crfr.ac.uk
More information on Having a Say
at School …
http://www.havingasayatschool.org.uk/promoting.html
Tisdall, E.K.M. (2012) ‘Taking forward children and young
people’s participation’, in Hill, M., Head, G., Lockyer, A.,
Reid, B. and Taylor, R. (eds) Children’s Services:
working together, Harlow: Pearson, pp. 151-162.
Tisdall, E.K.M. (2010) ‘Governance and Participation’, in
Percy-Smith, B. and Thomas, N. (eds) A Handbook of
Children and Young People’s Participation, London:
Routledge, pp. 318-329.
More information about participation in
schools and school councils …
• Education Scotland, of course
• Cross, B, Hall, J., Hall, S., Hulme, M., Lewin, J.,
McKinney, S. (2009), Pupil Participation in
Scottish Schools. University of Glasgow.
http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/49601/
• http://www.pupilvoicewales.org.uk/
• http://www.niccy.org/Participation/democra2
More information on CRFR
opportunities ..
CPD courses on research and consultation with
children and young people …
• Using creative methods in research with children
and young people 21st and 22nd March 2013
• Using digital media in research with children and
young people18th and 19th April 2013
http://www.crfr.ac.uk/eventsandtraining/
MSc/Diploma in Childhood Studies
http://www.sps.ed.ac.uk/pgtcs