Empowering Voices
Case study by Danielle Aubrey and Sophie Jackson, Moorcroft School, Eden Academy Trust
Creating a holistic approach for pupil voice initiatives in special schools
“Every child has a right to express their views and be heard.” — SEND Code of Practice
At Moorcroft, our school council once existed in name only, hindered by limited research and a lack of integration into the wider school community.
Recognising this, we set out to create a truly inclusive school council, where all pupils participate, lead, and shape school life – supported by AAC and inclusive practices.
Our aims
- Ensure every pupil has a voice that is heard.
- Enable meaningful contribution to school life.
- Promote active, inclusive decision-making
- Embed our five core values of the school council.
- Share guidance to support other schools.
How we did it
How We Did It
To build an inclusive school council, we adapted traditional models to meet the diverse needs of all pupils. This required creativity, collaboration, and flexibility.
Key strategies:
Staff Engagement:
- Leadership support, assemblies, PSHE links, ready-to-use resources for teachers.
Communication-Based Grouping:
- Worked with SaLT to group pupils by communication strengths.
- Used a colour-coded system for fair and inclusive representative selection.
- Highlighted key vocabulary and shared across the school so that staff can reinforce and generalise using AAC.
Flexible Roles: Flexible Participation
- Adapted roles to suit different needs, creating 3 strands of participation tailored to communication styles.
- Projects included environmental work, resource creation, and event planning.
- Pupils used AAC and accessible tools to contribute meaningfully.
Multisensory Tools:
- Used objects, sounds, smells, symbols, and photos to support understanding.
- Enabled informed choices through tools like Talking Mats and songs.
Inclusive Voting:
- Created a visual voting system with personalised balls and large tubes.
- Supported by symbols, photos, voice output switches, and AAC-linked vocabulary.
Impact
Authentic Pupil Participation
- The school council is now embedded in school life, with pupils actively shaping decisions.
- Engagement has grown, and AAC use has expanded.
- Pupils are developing key skills in self-advocacy, communication, and identity.
- Inspired wider projects like Family Identity and Juice Bikes
Positive Feedback and Recognition
- Staff report increased pupil confidence and communication.
- Pupils express pride and enjoyment in their roles.
- Recognised by Ofsted and QA reviews.
- Model adopted by other schools
Conclusion
Our journey to reimagine the school council was rooted in a commitment to inclusion, identity, and authentic pupil voice. We empowered all pupils not just to participate, but to lead and influence change. Our inclusive school council reflects a cultural shift, one where identity is celebrated, and every pupil feels seen, heard, and empowered to shape their school experience.
Next steps
We are sharing our inclusive model with others – get in touch to collaborate.
Moorcroft School Student Council in Action
Eco-Heroes: The School Council in Action
Moorcroft students took on the challenge of exploring the positive changes they, and the whole school community, could make to help the environment.
Check out their amazing video to see what they discovered.
Helping Wildlife, One Pond at a Time
Moorcroft’s School Council set a brilliant challenge for every class – to make their very own mini pond to help local wildlife.
The council team rolled up their sleeves and worked hard preparing the outdoor area, making sure everything was ready for the exciting pond-building project.
