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 |