Policy & Practice: Look at the world through a child's eyes

For example, the Carnegie report on "inspiring schools" found thatstudents in more democratic schools felt happier and more in control oftheir learning. Although the link was indirect, there was a consensusabout the clear association between participation and academicachievement.

The clear benefits of involvement have led to calls by the House ofCommons' Education and Skills Select Committee for a statutory basis forschool councils. In addition, England's children's commissioner AlAynsley-Green has outlined plans to consult with young people and hasagreed that half of his 3m budget is spent on the ideas theseyoung people come up with.

At a local or individual practice level, though, it can be difficult tomake participation meaningful. However, projects like Young Lives'Partnership Action for Rural Communities project in Cambridgeshire areproving it can be done. The project encourages teenagers to participatein the rural villages where they live, and young people have appointedlocal youth champions to represent them on the parish councils.