Student participation in school ICT policy-making: A case of students as researchers

Many questions have been raised about student voice as a channel for change. School Improvement - especially regarding information and communications technology (ICT) - is often driven by adult agendas, and even in the classroom students are least likely to be involved in bringing about change. This paper reports on a case of student action research at an independent secondary school in England. The student researchers analysed data they collected from students and teachers at their school, and from other international schools, about current ICT practices to develop policy statements on teaching and learning with ICT which they recommended to the school's senior management team (SMT). Collaborating with these students was a consortium consisting of teachers and administrators at the school. Accounts of their data collection methods and their negotiations with adults on 'improving ICT for the beneficiaries' are presented as a model of student participation in school reform. © 2011 British Educational Leadership, Management and Administration Society(BELMAS).