How this SEN school made their school council inclusive, structured, and central to school life
Teacher: Hannah Jarman, Head of PSHE, SRE, and Preparation for Adulthood
School: Penn Fields School
Smart School Council user since: 2021
Location: Wolverhampton, UK
What wasn’t working with their old school council model
Penn Fields is a special school for students aged 5–19 with a wide range of complex needs, including autism, physical disabilities, and speech, language and communication needs. While the school had an existing student council, it only involved a small number of students - and staff began questioning whether it truly represented the broader pupil community.
“We realised we were only hearing from the most confident students,” Hannah says. “There were so many other voices that we weren’t including.”
The school wanted to do more than tick a box. They aimed to build pupil voice into the curriculum in a way that empowered every student, no matter their needs, to express ideas, build communication skills, and take part in shaping school life.
How they created a more inclusive and structured school model
Hannah and the team at Penn Fields embedded Smart School Councils into their PSHE curriculum and preparation for adulthood programme. Instead of relying on a single elected group, they introduced structured Class Meetings that run fortnightly in small, tutor-based groups - often with no more than six students per session.
This gave students the chance to practise structured discussion and respectful debate in a familiar, supportive environment. Teachers use visuals, sentence starters, and differentiated support to make sure students at all ability levels can take part.
“The structure has really helped. Students now know what to expect each time,” Hannah explains. “It’s created a safe space to have opinions and disagree respectfully.”
They’ve also seen growing interest in Action Teams - small student-led groups focused on planning and delivering projects. Recent examples include setting up a friendship bench and leading Anti-Bullying Week activities.
The difference Smart School Councils has made at Penn Fields
✅ Students are now regularly engaging in respectful debate and structured discussion
✅ Class Meetings give every learner - from verbal to non-verbal - the opportunity to be heard
✅ Pupils are exploring big ideas and linking them to local, meaningful action
✅ The approach supports key curriculum goals like communication, oracy, and leadership
✅ Staff have more confidence in facilitating inclusive pupil voice activities
As Hannah puts it, “It’s been a game-changer for our students. Pupil voice is no longer just for a select few - it’s part of how we do things across the school.”
Hannah’s Top Tips
🔹 Embed pupil voice into your curriculum to give it structure and sustainability
🔹 Use small tutor groups to help students feel confident and supported
🔹 Model respectful disagreement to build communication and empathy
🔹 Don’t underestimate your students - every learner has something to say
🔹 Give pupil voice time to grow - it’s a long-term, high-impact investment
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