Now any school or group of schools can set up their own student commission drawing on the work of Harris. We have produced this online toolkit which includes guidance, tips and ideas as well as hundreds of resources for schools to adapt. Go to www.studentcommission.org.uk.
David has some very good things to say about the commission in his blog:
'...this is what students having agency in their own learning looks like. This is what happens when you place great trust and responsibility in student's capacity to be thoughtful, respectful, sensitive and creative: they never, ever let you down.
...fully implemented, they [the entitlements] are capable of transforming a previously 'top-down' hierarchy, into a real, democratic learning environment, and creating a genuine learning commons out of a high-performing, but ultimately disengaging, learning enclosure.
And, if you could do just one thing which would fundamentally change the learning relationships in your school, do this.'
Since Christmas we have both been busy supporting the Harris Student Commission develop its final recommendations. And, after two years of enquiry, the commission has published its ‘new design for learning' (Download file). We are hugely proud to have been part of it. So much that’s positive has already happened, for everyone involved, but the best work of the commission is yet to come as the academies set out to fulfil the seventeen entitlements for all learners and teachers.
“The most significant skill I have gained from the commission is the ability to question things rather than accept them at face value.” Matthew Gavin, Year 10, Harris Academy Merton
The commission is launching the new design for learning at the Whole Education ‘Whose Curriculum Is It Anyway?’ event on 16 May 2011.
As some of you will know, things have changed a little for GoddardPayne in the past month or so. For some time Gene has been considering a move back into schools – a chance to put all he’s learnt and experienced in the past seven years into practice – and as of two weeks ago he has taken on the role of Vice Principal at Harris Academy Purley.