How this primary school transformed their school council to improve communication and inclusion
Teacher: Rachel Gray, Year 3 Teacher & Character Development Lead
School: Kells Lane Primary School
Smart School Council user since: 2020
Location: Gateshead, UK
Why they changed their approach
Rachel leads on pupil voice at Kells Lane Primary School and was keen to find a way to make it more inclusive. The traditional school council model they had used for years no longer felt right. Although they elected representatives, the same confident pupils always got voted in. Many others were left without a chance to contribute.
The school also had a huge emphasis on oracy, so she was looking for a model that would allow every child to build their speaking and listening skills in a meaningful way.
What they did to change the way student voice worked at their school
Rachel recognised that relying on a small group of elected pupils wasn’t enough to capture the full range of views and experiences across the school. She wanted to embed pupil voice as something that belonged to everyone, not just the few.
After discovering Smart School Councils, she introduced the Class Meeting Tool across the whole school so that every class could take part in regular, structured discussions. This allowed all students to engage in debates and cast their votes, regardless of confidence level or background.
She also introduced a Communications Team to help lead the programme and gather ideas from across the school. These pupils had a clearer sense of responsibility and leadership, but the model ensured their role was about amplifying the voice of others—not just their own.
By integrating Smart School Councils into their existing emphasis on oracy, Rachel created a strategy that not only gathered more inclusive input but also gave pupils regular opportunities to practise speaking and listening skills in a purposeful way.
What’s changed since implementing the Smart School Councils model
Pupil voice is now far more inclusive and impactful. Every child at Kells Lane has a chance to contribute and take part in decision-making. Rachel noted that the model helped reduce the tokenism that often comes with traditional school councils.
The weekly Class Meetings have become a regular and valued part of the school week. They support the school’s wider focus on oracy by providing a structured space for children to speak, listen, and build confidence in expressing their opinions.
The Communications Team has also flourished, giving pupils genuine leadership opportunities and a deeper understanding of how their ideas can shape school life. Rachel describes the change as a “game-changer” for how they approach participation and pupil leadership.
“We were already doing a lot of work around oracy, so this felt like a really natural step. Every child can now have a say, not just the confident ones who might get elected.”
Rachel’s Advice to Other Schools
“Don’t overthink it - just start. You’ll be surprised how quickly the children pick it up and run with it. The platform makes it easy, and it’s a great way to get every voice involved.”
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