School Recognition Scheme
Are you looking for support in evaluating the effectiveness and impact of your student leadership work and plan next steps, with an opportunity to gain accreditation for your work?
Start date
On-demand
Format
Audit tool and online or in-person support
Need more information?
Get in touch or call 020 7802 2300
A growing subfield of the student voice literature focuses on the organisational mechanisms and processes that enable students to be meaningfully involved in school decisions via inclusive government structures and action research projects on school issues.
Lyons et al, 2020
SSAT have been providing accreditation for the work of student leaders for decades. Based on recent research evidence, we are now offering a brand-new scheme that recognises the vital work that schools and their leaders do to promote, develop and refine student leadership so that it has a clear and noticeable impact on students, the school and beyond.
Our recognition scheme enables school leaders to be able to effectively self-evaluate their contribution to helping students develop across 18 key skills and abilities within the six key domains of Student Leadership for IMPACT. These are shown in the infographic below.
Our recognition scheme for schools also focuses school self-evaluation on the four key ways in which they provide the support that empowers student leadership to flourish in their setting:
- Conception: Strategic intent and key principles
- Consideration: Resourcing and ways of working
- Connection: Communication with staff and other stakeholders
- Contribution: Culture and access, and measuring impact
Our recognition scheme reflects research by Coffey and Lavery (2017), amongst others, who say that “there is a need for schools to provide a ‘continuum of opportunities’…age-appropriate and scaffolded in order that students can continually build on their leadership schools.” The scheme recognises how students build leadership skills over time through a range of activities.
- Bronze Award focuses on student leadership of self.
- Silver Award focuses on student leadership with others.
- Gold Award focuses on student leadership across the school.
- Platinum Award focuses on student leadership impacting beyond the school.
Schools can achieve bronze and silver award recognition based upon how they develop student leadership in everyday classroom and social space settings. Schools seeking gold and platinum award recognition can draw upon the effectiveness of their offer to student leaders through formal leadership roles and wider opportunities to contribute to the school and beyond.
SSAT’s Student Leadership for IMPACT School Recognition Scheme can work at one of three different levels depending upon your needs: audit, authentication, or accreditation.
- Level 1 – Schools use the audit tool for self-evaluation of their student leadership work. This offer includes our audit tool, process guide, and self-certification materials and is free for member schools.
- Level 2 – Schools use the audit tool for self-evaluation. They then curate a portfolio of evidence of their work in this area and send it to SSAT for authentication and official certification. Schools will receive a feedback meeting and report.
- Level 3 – Schools use the audit tool for self-evaluation and submit an evidence portfolio for authentication. We visit your school to speak with student leaders and others to evaluate the impact of your work. Schools receive a feedback report and official plaque.
Student leadership expert
Dr Keven Bartle, Senior Education Lead, SSAT
Keven has been a teacher for almost three decades and was headteacher at a richly diverse secondary school in London for nine years. Through his career, Keven has been committed to the power of education for social justice and transformation, working in schools where staff make a difference to the lives of children, families and communities.
Any questions?
Contact us or call 020 7802 2300.
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