SCHOOLS NorthEast holds first introductory sessions for Voice of the Pupil Project
The SCHOOLS NorthEast Healthy MindED Commission has held introductory sessions for schools interested in participating in the Voice of the Pupil project. At the events, held at Boldon School and Inspire2Learn, attendees learned more about what would be required of them and what the Commission would provide.
Voice of the Pupil is designed to explore school children’s experiences of mental health through the use of qualitative focus groups in school settings. The findings will then be used to help shape school-based mental health interventions. The study was piloted earlier this year across a small number of primary, secondary and special schools in the region.
Colin Lofthouse, Head at Rickleton Primary and a trustee of SCHOOLS NorthEast, explained how he had used the findings from the focus groups in his school to develop the PSHCE curriculum. He said it had uncovered important issues the school had been unaware of that could now be addressed. Schools participating in the project will be given materials and guidance on how they can used Voice of the Pupil to develop the curriculum.
In May, delegates at our Healthy MindED conference heard from the school leaders involved in the pilot. Delegates were shown short video clips of what the pupils had to say and given analysis of the emerging themes.
There has been excellent feedback from the event, with almost all schools that attended now signed up to the Commission.
For more information on the project please contact our Policy Officer Christopher Hawkins at c.hawkins@schoolsnortheast.com