Schools recognised for democracy programmes.

41 schools have today (Tuesday 26th January 2016) been awarded a Discovering Democracy Award by the British Youth Council in recognition of their commitment to a democracy curriculum and raising awareness of democracy.  Winning schools were judged to be good practice examples in this Government backed initiative which is encouraging pupils to have their say in society – both within the school or through social action projects in the local community.

The award for schools, which was launched last year by the British Youth Council in partnership with the Cabinet Office and the Department for Education in September. Nominations for new schools and colleges have now been closed. The list of winning schools (below) will be shared with Ofsted.

The award aims to showcase those schools who engage young people, particularly those aged 16+, with democracy from an early age, whether that is voting for their representatives or  a school council, or voter registration, or getting involved in social action campaigns.

All awards were judged by a panel including young people and will celebrate and share the success of schools and colleges that go further in equipping their students with the skills and knowledge to use their voice in our society.

Jon Foster, Chair of the British Youth Council said:  “I’m excited that yet more schools are enabling their pupils to take part in social action in their local areas. It’s so important that we highlight how important it is to offer pupils and opportunity to take part in grassroots democracy. It’s great to see so many school encouraging pupils to take an interest in the democratic process.”

The following schools have been named as winners:

Award Winners

Ashley School, Cheshire
Greenfaulds High School, Cumbernauld
George Greens School, London
Parkstone Grammar School
East Norfolk Sixth Form College
Manchester Creative & Media Academy
Brine Leas School
Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Cheshire
The St Philip Howard Catholic High School, Barnham
Jewish Community Secondary School, Hertfordshire
Hilbre High School Humanities College, Wirral
Bentley Wood High School for Girls, Middlesex
Pate’s Grammar School, Gloucestershire
Little Heath School, Romford
Sandbach High School and Sixth Form College, Cheshire
Sir Robert Woodard Academy, Lancing
Avonbourne Trust, Dorset
Marshalls Park School, Essex
Queens Park Community School, London
Ilford County High School, Cumbria
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School
Stamford Endowed Schools, Lincolnshire
Summerhill School, Suffolk
The Blackpool Sixth Form College
Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School, Reading
Manchester Enterprise Academy
Fairlands Middle School, Somerset
Stockport Academy
Royal Wootton Bassett Academy, Wiltshire
Priestley College, Warrington
Upper Shirley High School, Southampton
Walthamstow Hall, Kent
Forest Hill School
South Bromsgrove High Academy Trust
Walkden High School, Manchester
St Albans Catholic High School, Suffolk
The Stourport High School Sixth Form College
Selby High School
High Storrs School, Sheffield
Liskeard School and Community College
Easthampstead Park Community School, Berkshire