On Thursday 12th February, School Council representatives from across Wickersley Partnership Trust schools came together once again to ensure that student voice remains at the heart of our work. This meeting was particularly significant as students were joined by members of the Trust’s HR Committee, including Directors and Senior Leaders.
By mixing students from different schools around each table and enabling Directors and Senior Leaders to rotate between discussions, we created a powerful space for open dialogue on one of our core priorities: student wellbeing.
The conversations were thoughtful, honest, and, at times, challenging. What emerged was a detailed picture of life across our schools – highlighting both areas of strength and the systemic pressures that students may experience.
Students spoke positively about the growing sense of belonging they experience as they move through school, particularly in Key Stage 4, where established friendships and clearer goals help them feel more secure. They highlighted the powerful impact of trusted staff, describing certain classrooms and adults as genuine “safe havens.” There was also recognition that wellbeing is clearly valued across our Trust, with assemblies, themed weeks and enrichment opportunities demonstrating a visible commitment to supporting students both academically and personally.
Alongside these strengths, students offered constructive suggestions to help us go even further. They asked for greater consistency and clearer communication around changes to routines, staffing and assessments to reduce unnecessary anxiety. They encouraged us to ensure that every student has access to a trusted adult, not just a small number of well-known “safe” staff, and to look at how everyday pressures can feel more manageable. They also expressed a desire for wellbeing to be embedded more consistently into daily school life, rather than concentrated into standalone events.
Tilly, student from Wickersley School and Sports College, commented: “It’s been really useful to share our ideas and hear what other schools are doing so we can take new approaches back with us. Talking about how different schools prepare students in the lead-up to exams has given us some great ideas. It’s also been good to meet people from other schools and realise we share many of the same views, and to think together about how we can make things even better for students.”
Rachael Skelton, Headteacher at The Gainsborough Academy, said: “The event was brilliant. Our students were articulate, thoughtful and insightful in the way they expressed their views. They spoke with real honesty about their experiences, balancing pride in their schools with constructive ideas for improvement. We were all impressed by the maturity, confidence and respect they showed throughout the discussions – they were outstanding ambassadors for their schools and for our Trust as a whole.”
A huge thank you to all of the students, staff and Senior Leaders who took part in this event. The reflections provide us with valuable direction and we are committed to taking them forward as we continue to strengthen our culture of care and belonging across WPT.
