Tag: pupil/student/learner voice

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SMART Matrix – create better projects

SMART targets are the basis for all good project plans. They help you break down a project into all the necessary parts, so you can see whether it’s really a good idea.

So if you’re trying to decide between a few courses of action, or you’re trying to sell your idea to someone else fill out this SMART matrix to help you.

This explains what SMART stands for and gives examples.

You can fill out the sheet with the rest of your team to ensure you all have a good understanding of what you’re trying to achieve and why.

Created by Asher Jacobsberg at School Councils UK.

Use the ‘More’ button to print or download (‘save’) this resource.
SMART Matrix – School Council Project Planning

School Councils UK Training Please feel free to reproduce this resource with acknowledgement (non-commercial use only). © School Councils UK 2007. S Definition General Project Aim pecific M easurable A chievable R elevant T ime-limited It says exactly what you are going to do, it’s not too broad There is a way of counting the outcome You can actually do it It helps you achieve the overall aims of the project and suits the people it is aimed at You have a date when it will end Making lunch We will make a green leaf salad, and several types of sandwiches and drinks. We will make a cake for dessert. We will make 1 bowl of salad per 8 people and 3 sandwiches, 2 drinks and 1 slice of cake per person. We have checked that there are facilities to do this, and that we can buy all the ingredients for the money we have. We’ve checked and as long as we have enough variety of sandwiches everyone will have something to eat. We need to get this done by 12.00 today. Recycle more Use less non-renewable energy Waste less water Source food more locally Reduce number of people driving to school School Councils UK, 3 Floor 108-110 Camden High Street, London NW1 0LU Tel 0845 456 9428 Fax 0845 456 9429 Email info@schoolcouncils.org www.schoolcouncils.org rd
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involver blog

Taglines!

So today we’ve been thinking about taglines for involver.

Up until now, we’ve gone with ‘engage, impact, enjoy’, which I think is good, but most people have said that it doesn’t actually say what we do. Fair point, so we’re having a bit of a rethink….

Companies employ shiny PR companies to spend months, and thousands of pounds, on a single line of text in taglines. I guess it’s to get the words, and the feeling that those words create, right.  I wonder how much McDonalds spent to come up with those three words – ‘I’m lovin’ it!’.

Due to a lack of time, not to mention money, Asher and I have been working on ideas today. This is the list we’ve got so far:

  1. involver : we do whole-school pupil voice for fun
  2. involver : fun and effective whole-school pupil voice
  3. involver: helping schools with fun, sustainable and active pupil voice for all
  4. involver: helping schools with fun and effective whole-school pupil voice
  5. involver: helping schools to enjoy active and effective pupil voice for all
  6. involver: helping schools to enjoy effective whole-school pupil voice
  7. involver: beyond school councils
  8. involver: going beyond school councils
  9. involver: inspiring school councils and more
  10. involver: beyond pupil voice
  11. involver: fun, effective, whole-school pupil voice
  12. involver: smart school councils
  13. involver: inspiring fun and effective pupil voice for all
  14. involver: inspiring fun, effective pupil voice for all
  15. involver: activating pupil voice through school councils
  16. involver: inspiring pupil voice through school councils

Issues:

–   We want to focus on pupil voice because it is not prescriptive about the way schools should approach this. However, if we focus on that, then we lose the school councils niche. 95% of schools have them, and there’s a fair proportion that want to improve them. On the flip sude, if we focus on school councils too much, then it looks like we’re telling schools what to do, and not helping them to find a pupil voice model that works for them.

– My favourites are probably 3 or 13. Although with 3, there’s a worry that ‘helping’ isn’t strong enough. And with 13, is it clear enough? And do we need the ‘and’ compared to 14? So confused!

Either way, what do you all think? Leave a comment below.

It would be  great to hear from you on what you think is best – teachers feel free to ask your pupils. If you think of a completely new one, or a combination of the above, let us know! We’re trying to think short, snappy and clear – but they are always the hardest!

Greg :)

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involver blog

Lanzarote vs. case studies

So Asher’s away in Lanzarote in 35 degree heat with the family, and I’m spending Saturday writing up good pupil voice case studies.

Lanzarote
Lanzarote

It’s all good though, there’s a lot of very good practice out there that other schools could learn from and it’s good to be doing some concrete research on pupil voice that works. Trying to understand why is the next step, what are the ingredients in those schools which have enabled success.

Also been doing some work on the website. Thanks to Tim the Intern for his HTML help = legend.

Two useful sites to flag up – if you’re a Governor, David Sassoon produces a very informative website at http://www.governorsagenda.co.uk/.

Finally, if you’re in East London, there’s a great new project helping to empower young people who are at risk of exclusion through an urban beekeeping social enterprise. Very interesting. Take a look at http://www.thegoldenco-op.com/.

Have a great weekend. Greg :o)