Outwood Academies scoop wins in the National Student Voice Awards

Outwood Grange Academy and Outwood Academy Hemsworth have scooped wins at this year’s National Student Voice Awards. The awards, organised by Votesforschools, recognise schools that prioritise student voice and empower young people to make a positive impact in their communities.

Votesforschools is dedicated to fostering the voice of young people and ensuring their opinions are heard. Working with almost 1,500 schools and more than 700,000 pupils nationwide, the Votesforschools platform engages students in current affairs, ethics, and social issues through weekly interactive lessons that promote critical thinking, debate, and decision-making, and provide children with the opportunity to express their views.

The panel of esteemed judges for the school awards included Vanessa Harriss from The Week Junior, Kim Leadbeater MP, and Olga, a member of the Save the Children Youth Advisory Board. They assessed numerous applications and were impressed by the exceptional efforts of both Outwood Grange Academy and Outwood Academy Hemsworth.

Outwood Academy Hemsworth, the recipient of the Bronze Award, has made significant strides in promoting student voice within the academy community in a remarkably short period. The judges were particularly impressed by its commitment to democratic practices and the students' abilities to speak out on critical issues such as climate change.

Niamh Longbottom, Student Voice Lead at Outwood Academy Hemsworth, said:

"At Outwood Academy Hemsworth, we put student voice at the heart of everything that we do. We are proud of the amazing team we have built in just one year and look forward to watching it grow in the future. The students at Outwood Academy Hemsworth have worked hard for this award and I am very proud of them."

This is the first year of having a Student Voice team at Outwood Academy Hemsworth, yet their impact has already been substantial. The judges commended their comprehensive approach to introducing student voice, which demonstrated strong connections to the local community.

Outwood Grange Academy, winner of the Silver Award, has long been recognised for its outstanding commitment to student and school engagement, claiming wins at the awards for the past four years. Its efforts in encouraging student voice across all areas have been acknowledged by the judges. Outwood Grange Academy's dedication to student participation is expected to have a lasting effect on both its students and the wider community.

Julekha Motara, Assistant Principal at Outwood Grange Academy, said:

"We actively encourage students to use their voice so that they continue to do so beyond school. For me, leading on student voice was something I became even more passionate about after looking at the statistics on the turnout of 18-21-year-olds at the general election a few years ago."

The judges were impressed by Outwood Grange Academy's commitment to student training and frequent engagement with school leaders. The students' opinions have significantly influenced the academy’s direction and it actively seeks student voices on matters such as career aspirations.

Outwood Grange Academy and Outwood Academy Hemsworth's achievements at the National Student Voice Awards 2023 exemplify the dedication of Outwood Grange Academies Trust to nurturing student voice and providing opportunities for young individuals to contribute positively to society.