School governors to take pupils' views into account - DSCF

The government has launched a consultation on a new legal duty requiring governing bodies in England to invite and consider pupils’ views on key issues facing their school.

The duty – contained in the Education and Skills Act 2008 – will apply to all governing bodies of maintained schools, including all maintained nursery schools and all maintained primary and secondary schools. It will be commenced separately in England and Wales.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families said it intends to introduce the duty and relevant regulations in England on 1 September 2010.

The matters on which governing bodies will have to obtain pupils’ views will be prescribed by these regulations, but schools will be free to consult beyond the minimum requirement if they so wish. However, the duty does not prescribe how schools should consult their pupils.

The DCSF said there was already “much good work” going on in schools in relation to encouraging the active participation of children and young people in decision-making.  The benefits include increased engagement in learning and improved behaviour and attendance as a result of creating a more inclusive and purposeful school.

However, the new duty would support improved practice and bring greater consistency, it claimed.

Further information on the consultation is available by clicking here.