ABSTRACT
Young people want a say in their education – and that’s not just the lessons. It’s the clothes they wear and the food they eat. They want their opinions to be heard, and more and more schools are listening. Pupil power is about democracy, equality and human rights. It’s about children becoming key members of an educational partnership. It’s also about vegetarian options in the canteen, new drinks machines and lockers for everyone. At its heart is that symbol of empowerment – the school council. Ridiculed when they first appeared back in the 1970s, councils are back in fashion. But does democracy make for better schools? How much power should pupils have? And are school councils really a vehicle for citizenship and change – or just an excuse to moan about the meals?
