Corby students across multi-academy trust form youth parliament

Thirty pupils from 15 primary schools in Corby and Milton Keynes have formed a youth parliament to help shape the future direction of the Inspiring Futures through Learning (IFtL) multi-academy trust and its common causes.

The cross-trust forum is designed to empower pupil voice to support and inform the organisation’s decision-making by providing leadership and action opportunities for children on issues that are important to them.

The first parliamentary meeting explored a range of issues including understanding of IFtL values, sustainability and the environment.

IFtL chief executive Sarah Bennett said: “At IFtL, we strive to continuously deliver high-quality education, including for disadvantaged children and children with SEND, operating fair access.

“However, in addition, our schools have an ever-growing wider purpose in intellectual, social and character development; understanding our role in society; our civic duty. We recognise the power of schools working together as places that inspire people, children and adults, to be continuously learning, and to be supported in their growth.

“As part of this ethos, we want to create opportunities to hear the voices of our children and collaborate, debate, innovate and inspire everyone to be their best version of themselves.

“Through their learning, children recognise their positions as leaders, celebrating the diversity and knowledge within our communities to collaborate and innovate.

“The idea behind the youth parliament is for children to know they are part of something bigger and are special for their own reasons – that they have a whole community behind them and how this sets opportunity for the future. Children need to feel it, and then see it.

“I am looking forward to seeing the youth parliament develop and the children’s leadership will play a major part in our decision-making.”

Victoria, a Year 6 pupil at Priors Hall school in Corby, said: “Being in the youth parliament means I can be involved in changes around the school and make the school even better than it already is.

“We learned more about the meaning of our IFtL FUTURES values: F is for fun, U is for unique, T is for together, U is for unafraid, R is for responsible, E is for energetic, and S is for safe. This lets us know we can have a bright future if we follow these steps.

“I think the youth parliament will also help me to have a brighter future as I have a role that is very important, and help me be ready when I have to get a job.”

Another Priors Hall pupil, Amelie, said: “IFtL is all about changing our future for the better.

“The youth parliament means I can help school through fun activities that also teach children about things like helping the environment. For example, I learned about how having the heating turned on makes electricity use higher than it might be. I would like to help keep electricity use down and also do more assemblies to teach people how important it is to keep the environment safe.

“By the end of the year, I would like to go to all of the meetings, meet new people and make new friends. I would like to inspire people’s futures and make our year group have the best last primary school year.”