The Harris Student Commission

Schools face a growing challenge: how to provide an education that effectively prepares young people for success in an uncertain and fast-changing world.

It is becoming increasingly clear that the best way to do this is through the active participation and engagement of students in how teaching and learning is delivered. But how do you achieve this? 

How do you get students, teaching staff and leaders working together to improve education?

NESTA has worked in partnership with nine academies from the Harris Federation of South London schools to establish the Harris Student Commission on Learning. 

Harris Student Commission on Learning

The two year Commission, started in October 2009, is driven by the belief that radical improvement in young people's learning is only possible when students lead the way and, together with teaching staff, take more responsibility and control over how they learn.

The commission is already delivering tangible and lasting improvement in the range and quality of teaching and learning approaches, by enhancing collaboration and creating better student-teacher relationships, and by raising the confidence, skills and capabilities of students.

Each of the schools' leadership teams are committed not only to supporting the commission as it carries out its work but also taking forward whatever recommendations are made.  The intention is that every student and member of staff will have contributed in some way to the commission's work.

Key reports

The commission has produced three reports, Learning about learning: 12 early ideas about learning, Learning about learning: further insights and their final report A new design for learning.

The latest publication 'A new design for learning' is a set of entitlements and opportunities that the Harris Federation will take forward to ensure all learners and teachers have consistent access to world class learning opportunities. It is the culmination of over two years of extensive student-led enquiry and research.

The previous publications bring together findings from student-led enquiry and research. It includes articles, case studies and research summaries, all focused on four key areas of learning - learners, teachers, content and the curriculum, and partnerships.

Developing your own Radical Change

The students have now become leaders of their own and others' learning as they have been given a real stake in how their education is organised and delivered.

If you want to embark on a similar challenge you can access a toolkit developed for that purpose at www.studentcommission.org.uk