Primary democracy
Background
The Primary Democracy project is a pilot project that aims to recognise and develop pupil voice, encourage citizenship, ease transition and develop community cohesion within, and local to, schools.
The activities that are being developed and run focus on empowering young people to become active citizens and help them to develop skills such as communication, planning, managing projects and team work.
Local authorities
There are 6 local authorities involved in the pilot: 4 in England and 2 in Wales. They are:
- Bridgend
- Coventry
- Hackney
- Kirklees
- Lambeth
- Swansea.
Through these, Primary Democracy is being developed in 36 schools. Each authority has at least one secondary school working with the primary schools also involved in the project, aiming to reduce challenges experienced by children and young people when moving between primary and secondary school.
Partners
The Primary Democracy project is being evaluated by the National Children's Bureau and is supported by Esmee Fairbairn, The Bridge House Trust and the local authorities involved in its delivery.
Policy Forum
The project has been running since October 2004. In January 2006 a Policy Forum was held in central London, during which key stakeholders and promoters of citizenship came together to discuss how this and other similar projects can combine to ensure that children and young people are enabled to develop their own voices, and that society provides appropriate opportunities for them to be listened to, recognised and acted upon.
Key speakers/organisations at this event included:
- Active Citizens in Schools project team
- Changemakers
- The Citizenship Foundation
- the DfES (now known as DCSF)
- the Princess Diana Memorial Award
- School Councils UK.
There will be another policy forum before the completion of the pilot project. If you would like more information about this, and other forthcoming events, please email the project development team.
Speak up
This guide offers primary schools useful information and tips for setting up study support/oshl programmes and activities that encourage the development of 'children's voice'.
Download the 'Speak up' guide now (PDF file, 671 KB).
If you have any questions about the Primary Democracy project, please email a member of the project team or call 020 8709 9900 or (024) 76588440.