Our school was proud to participate in the NCSE CREATE initiative, a collaborative project focused on strengthening student voice and participation across the school community.

Using the Lundy Model of Participation, which is based on Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), we explored how all students can be supported to express their views, have those views listened to, and see them influence decisions that affect their lives. The Lundy Model is built around four key elements: Space, Voice, Audience and Influence.

Principal Rosemarie and teachers Karen and Emma participated in the CREATE project on behalf of the school, working collaboratively with students, staff and families throughout the year. Together, they explored ways of strengthening student participation and ensuring that student voice remains at the heart of school life.

Throughout the year, feedback was gathered through surveys, discussions, visual supports and a range of communication methods to ensure that every student had opportunities to share their views in ways that were meaningful and accessible to them.

As a school, we are quite progressive in our student voice journey. We have established many opportunities for students to access Space, Voice and Audience within school life and decision-making processes. Our current focus is on strengthening the fourth element of the Lundy Model, Influence, ensuring that student views not only are heard but also have a meaningful impact on decisions and actions within our school community.

One of the highlights of the project was the creation of a visual display of our CREATE journey, which is proudly showcased at the front of our school. The display captures the work undertaken throughout the year and celebrates the voices, ideas and contributions of our students. It serves as a reminder of our commitment to listening to students and ensuring that their perspectives help shape school life.

Participation in the CREATE initiative has provided valuable opportunities for reflection, collaboration and growth. We are grateful to our students, families and staff for their enthusiasm and engagement throughout the project and look forward to continuing to strengthen student voice and participation in the years ahead, with a particular emphasis on ensuring that student perspectives continue to influence and inform the future direction of our school.

  “Nothing about us without us” remains a guiding principle as we continue our journey towards meaningful student participation and influence.