Share Your Voice: What Should School Be Like?

The Association for Education Welfare Management (AEWM) National Conference in Birmingham on 15 October 2025 will focus on pupil voice and child-centred approaches to improving school attendance.

As part of this, Essex Youth Service is creating a video for the conference. In our film, we want to highlight what young people feel the school experience should be like.

How to take part

1. Record a short video of yourself answering these two questions:
   “In your view, what should the school experience be like for young people?”
   “How do you think this could be achieved?”
   
   Optional Extra Question: “What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced at your school?”
   (Please do not name your school or teachers by name, just talk about your own experience so we can respect everyone’s privacy.)
   
   
2. Download and complete the consent form using the button below.
   If you are under 18, please check with a parent or guardian.
   Download Consent Form
3. Scan or photograph the signed consent form.
4. Send your video and the signed consent form to: patrick.bate@essex.gov.uk

Prefer to write instead?

If you would rather share your views in writing, you can submit anonymous feedback here: https://forms.office.com/e/SUm1FYMUja
Written responses will still help us understand what young people feel the school experience should be like.

Important to know

• Your video may be included in the final film shown at the conference, but we cannot guarantee every video will be used.
• If you do not send a signed consent form with your video, we will not be able to use it.
• Even if your video is not included, your views will still help us understand what young people feel the school experience should be like.