Including the students’ voice in guidance for the improvement of educational practices

Abstract

Students are seldom considered as main change agents for initiatives aimed to improve education (including school consultation), notwithstanding they are usually its targets. This article emphasises the relevance of fostering and developing student involvement, viewed as an important condition of success. Firstly, pupil participation and pupil consultation are introduced. In particular, the contribution of pupil consultation to school consultation is detailed and justified. Potential tensions and conflicts are also approached. In addition, we outline different paths that pupil participation in school consultation may take. General conditions to be met, strategies and procedures are then presented.