Developing student voice and participatory pedagogy: a case study in a Spanish primary school

Abstract

This article describes a case study that is part of a broader research project in which schools set up processes of school improvement inspired by the proposals put forward by students. The project furthers the initiatives of the student voice movement and seeks to implement more participative pedagogical models. This as a whole represents a novel opportunity in the context of Spanish schools. Specifically, in the text we describe an experience in which students work as researchers (SAR) and in which we describe and discuss this process carried out in a primary school through ethnographic tools. The findings allow us to discover in this experience a learning opportunity for the members of the school community and for the school itself. Likewise, the research permits us to verify the existence of certain changes in the preexisting practice architectures that affect the cultural–discursive dimension, the material–economic dimension and the social–political dimension of schools.

Keywords:

• pupil voice
• students as researchers (SAR)
• inclusive education
• school improvement
• participation

Notes

1. ‘Analysis of the inclusion/exclusion processes in education in compulsory education. Developing local projects for change and school improvement’ [EDU2008-06,511-C02-02/EDUC].

2. In this article the word ‘students’ is used to refer to school pupils.

3. What most commonly happens, as can be seen in the literature, is that the experiences recognised in student voice have taken a leading role with older pupils. This is chiefly so in secondary education. However, there are fewer references to initiatives within the initial stages of the education system, with younger pupils or those at risk of school exclusion (Cook-Sather, 2006; Ferguson, Hanreddy, & Draxton, 2011).

4. The School Council is the main organ in Spanish schools for representation and participation and represents all components of the school community: family, teachers and pupils.