Improving participation in education
World-famous musician Dame Evelyn Glennie is joining young people, the Children’s Commissioner, and education leaders to improve listening to children in schools.
The solo percussionist, and founder of The Evelyn Glennie Foundation – whose mission is to ‘teach the world to listen’ – will take part in Commissioner Nicola Killean’s innovative Shoogle Lab on Friday. Participation expert Professor Laura Lundy will be co-hosting workshops with the Commissioner’s Young Advisors, in Edinburgh.
Through a series of events, the Commissioner’s ultimate aim is to improve participation in education, giving all children greater access to their right to be heard on decisions that affect their lives. This includes decisions that affect them individually and those covering wider education reform.
The Commissioner said: “Children have asked me to focus on education as one of my priorities, as they have told me that the system isn’t working for everyone. The only way we can improve their experience is to really listen to them – they are the experts in their own lives. They have a right to be heard and to have their opinions taken into account, both locally where they learn, and at a national level by the Scottish Government.
“I’ve committed to bringing together key decision-makers with children and together they can look at what is working well, and where the gaps need to be filled. We want Scotland’s education system to have inclusive participation embedded in it – a systematic way of listening to children and incorporate their views. They can then influence education reform.”
The Commissioner’s Young Advisors have been planning the day with the Commissioner and Professor Laura Lundy. One Young Advisor said: “We’re all looking forward to having good discussions with people in charge of education. We hope they’ll be open to looking at what needs to change to make it easier for children and young people to give their opinions and for us all to be listened to.”
Dame Evelyn Glennie said: “Listening is the foundation of every meaningful educational journey. When we truly listen to children – attentively, and without assumption – we recognise their insights as an investment in our collective future.
“Their experiences illuminate where our education system supports them and where it falls short. By embedding real, inclusive listening into Scotland’s education reform, we empower children to help shape the environments in which they learn and grow. That commitment is not only transformative for schools today; it is a lifelong gift to every young person whose voice helps shape the path ahead.”
Professor Laura Lundy has written an article for the Shoogle Lab setting out the arguments for why Scotland should focus on improving participation in schools.
Professor Lundy said: “Scotland is uniquely placed to become the global leader in listening to children in education – to establish itself as the best place in the world for children to be included in decision-making. Not only is the UNCRC, and Article 12, enshrined in domestic law, but there is an appetite for, and wealth of local expertise to embed it.”
Children in primary schools from all over the country have been taking part in play-based activities to help shape the Shoogle Lab. They have been sharing views on who gets listened to in school, how they are listened to, and on what topics and decisions they are included in. The Commissioner has also met third sector and parent organisations.
Notes to Editors
- In March, the Children’s Commissioner published “This Is Our Lives, It Matters A Lot”: Putting Children’s Rights At The Heart of Education. The report makes a series of recommendations needed to improve the education system
- Read Professor Laura Lundy’s article, Why We Must Really Listen To Children In Education
- For more information on The Evelyn Glennie Foundation, please visit https://www.evelynglennie.foundation