Pupil Voice

We believe it is critically important that young people begin to engage with democracy and the role it plays in British society, whether that is voting for their representatives on the school council or getting involved in social action campaigns.

The Academy Council aims go further in equipping our pupils with the leadership skills and knowledge to play a full and active part in our wider community life through student voice and social action projects.

There are various roles within the academy council which include senior representatives and form representatives which are elected positions and have detailed job descriptions. As our school grows this will include prefects in year 10 and 11.

Every elected member must:

1. Model the Ark Pioneer Values of Aim High, Have Integrity, Be Kind and Model Determination in all that they do at school and the local community.
2. Represent their year group at academy council meetings with commitment and full attendance and report back to their tutor groups keeping them up to date.
3. Promote honesty and respect by engaging in discussion and debate with fellow pupil representatives and understand the importance of teamwork.
4. Believe in the importance of representing their year group’s point of view even if they do not always agree with it themselves.
5. Represent the pupils of Ark Pioneer Academy at important events throughout the school year e.g. Open Evenings, assemblies and special visitors.
6. Keep the form representatives board up to date with the guidance of a member of senior staff.
7. Carry out extra responsibilities, such as ‘Living our Values’ duties and being an anti-bullying ambassador.

At Ark Pioneer we also run a peer mentoring programme as part of our pupil voice. We know that sometimes pupils feel more comfortable to speak to a peer rather than a member of staff. To support with this, a special peer mentoring team have been trained on how to listen to their fellow pupils and guide them to an adult in the school community who can support further.

Peer mentors make themselves available for drop in sessions during lunch time and regularly check in on new pupils who join our school community to ensure they are settling in.

Each half term pupils complete a feedback survey allowing the pupil voice to be heard and actions to be taken where appropriate. The survey covers different aspects of school life alongside looking at pupil wellbeing.

Here at Ark Pioneer we value pupil voice and ensure pupils know they will be listened to, this half term alone we have changed the food and enrichment offer for pupils following their feedback.

Below you can read a selection of pupil comments and responses from our most recent survey.

High Aspirations

"Teachers send extra resources or pieces of information that we can read outside of class and make sure to set us helpful homework/home learning"

"I would like to say that this school is amazing and I feel so sure that already that I will reach my dream career"

Rigorous Curriculum

"We are set quizzes on most lessons, so teacher knows what we need to improve on"

"The teachers give me knowledge organisers to help me learn"

Excellent Teaching

"If you need help staff will come over and help you and we know that we will get the help that we need"

"I think the most helpful things my teachers are doing to support my learning at home is working really hard to teach us at home and they are also trying to explain the subject very well"

"The teachers don't rush us"

"The teachers always ask if anybody has any questions and I know I can email them if I need help out of lessons"

"If I don't understand the work or if I'm a bit confused they will ask me what I'm stuck/struggling on and they will help me"

Instilling Values

"Teachers are really nice and show us kindness"

"They have taught us a lot and made me laugh sometimes"

Strong Discipline

"If at any time I have technical issues the teacher would not give me a check.  I am glad that after learning anything new, the teacher will make sure that every single person is 100% focussed and that they understand everything 100%"

"They are teaching us techniques on how to complete our work and homework"

"Sending regular emails and remainders and are always there to help"