Schools can use this toolkit to help Key Stage 2 pupils plan a pupil voice project, gather views and share findings about changes that matter to them. It is especially relevant for primary teachers, school council leads, PSE coordinators and participation workers looking for structured children’s rights, consultation and student voice activities.
In school, staff can use the sessions as a class project, school council programme, Eco club activity, after-school group or Year 6 transition task. The structure is designed to be flexible, so children choose the issue, research their peers’ views and decide how to take action in their school or local community.
The contents set out a clear sequence from understanding rights to choosing “top topics”, making decisions, designing questions, running a survey, analysing answers, turning results into data displays and preparing a final presentation. Each session is planned for about an hour, with room to shorten, extend or adapt it for different primary school contexts.
Practical extras include ice breaker activities such as Find someone who, Mix and meet, Walk of strength and Web of questions, plus “top ten” idea lists for survey methods, voting approaches, presentation formats, audiences and ways to communicate consultation results. The appendices include examples of questionnaires, survey results and presentation materials from the Newport pilot schools.
The toolkit suits teachers and support staff who want children to practise literacy, numeracy, research skills, confidence, speaking and listening while taking part in meaningful decision making. Developed through the Children First Pioneer Pilot with pupils from Pillgwenlly and Millbrook Primary Schools, it was written by Rhys Benjamin and Jon Hilder with contributions from the children involved.
