Our Children’s Parliament provides a valuable opportunity for pupils across the trust to come together, share their experiences, perspectives, hopes and dreams, and actively participate in building a more inclusive and supportive community.

Meetings and activities are facilitated by Trish Wilson (Transform Trust Lead Associate), David Walton, (Head of Bagthorpe Primary School and coordinator of Children’s Parliament) and Sherrelle Johnson (Transform Trust Programme Administrator), and are also supported by teachers from their individual schools.

Communicating and collaborating together

Building confidence in leadership and public speaking is just one of the important outcomes we intend for our Children’s Parliament representatives. We want every child who takes part to feel a sense of belonging, and also to feel empowered to express their ideas, advocate for their communities, and develop skills that will serve them throughout their lives.

At our second meeting of this academic year, the children shared with the room their experiences of speaking at school assemblies. Our adult facilitators encouraged the children to continue to volunteer for public speaking opportunities at school, and also to communicate and collaborate with their school councillors. It was wonderful to hear the pride in our children’s voices and their keenness to represent their schools. They are showing up and developing their leadership skills by becoming better listeners, learning to amplify the voices of their peers, and understanding the importance of being kind, loyal and respectful.

What makes a good leader?

During the day, the children explored what makes a good leader by discussing those well-known to them in the media, such as Greta Thunberg and Keir Starmer, and closer to home, of course, our very own CEO, Rebecca Meredith. In groups, the children asked each other open questions to determine how someone might have the making of a good leader: What motivates them? How do they prepare for events and speeches? What positive impact do they wish to make?

Isla, Year Six at Breadsall Hill Top Primary School believes that “an effective leader is someone who is the glue, holding a team together – someone who is respectful of the opportunity they are given to make people feel heard, and creates a safe and trusting environment so that everyone can feel heard and can speak up”.