We do

The second set of Expert Witnesses spoke to another 14 Harris Student Commissioners today at NESTA.

Read about the first Expert Witness Session held on 13 May 2009

The students listened and responded to inputs from Valerie Hannon, Sue Hackman, Ian McGimpsey and Charlie Leadbeater. The sessions covered a range of themes, including;

• Learning Futures - co-construction and integration
• Opening Minds - practical, relevant, project-based learning
• What will the world be like in 2020? - how schools can help young people develop skills and attitudes for life
• Importance of relationships – what would a school built around relationships be like?

Some of the best ideas the students said they heard were:

“Teachers from different subjects learning and teaching together”

“The idea of co-construction and how students can have some input into the negotiation of the curriculum. The importance of engaging students fully into lessons and focusing on their interests in order to keep them interested and willing to put in the effort.”

“Be world changers and leaders, not just watching the world go by”

“The key to learning is actually involving yourself into the learning”

“Understanding the social skills that we will need to succeed”

“Learning should pull people towards it, education should not be pushed onto people. It’s not about knowledge being forced onto you, but interesting questions being asked”

“By 2020 2.5million manual jobs will disappear, and 40% of jobs will need a degree”

“We need to believe in our own journey and have ambition”

Students said that, vased on what they had heard, they throught learning in Harris Academies could be more powerful in the future if...

“We changed the timetable to allow more time for lessons – this scheme would be useful for revision, projects, practicals and coursework”

“We have at least one session of Opening Minds on the timetable in Years 7-9 because they know it works in Key Stage 3. It allows deeper thinking, building on things and asking ourselves questions.”

“We told pupils what they needed to do to get a job in 2020”

“We focused on developing the characteristics we needed to succeed once we leave school”

“We helped students respond to criticism and improve”

From the experts:

“I really enjoyed meeting the students and talking about the issues from their point of view. I think they’re brave and bold, and I am deeply impressed by what the schools are trying to do” - Valerie Hannon

“Brilliant questions from students which are at the heart of the issue. I have no doubt these students will point us to the way forward and challenge our thinking and assumptions. I really enjoyed it!” - Ian McGimpsey

“Great questions and lots of ideas, enthusiasm and a thirst for learning. Good luck” - Charlie Leadbeater

“Many thanks for inviting me. I was fascinated by your ideas and questions about rewards and the school leaving age. Send your findings – we will be so interested!” - Sue Hackman