Pupils to raise voices in school

Pupils are also to be involved in inspections

Pupils are to have a greater say in how schools are run, in an attempt to give them a greater sense of participation.

It is particularly intended to encourage the interest of pupils who might feel disillusioned and alienated from school.

In an amendment to the Education Bill, the government proposes that guidance should be sent to all schools urging them to include pupils in a range of decisions about school life.

The education department says that this will not mean pupils "sitting in judgement on teachers", but it will mean asking young people for input on subjects as school uniform and the use of school grounds.

"This is about children having a say in their education and not about black-balling teachers," said an education department spokesperson.

Inspection

Before this guidance is officially issued, the government promises that it will be "consulting widely with parents and the profession".

This is the latest attempt to allow children a greater say in school.

Last September, Mike Tomlinson, who was then the chief inspector of schools in England, proposed that children and their parents should play a greater role in school inspections.

Mr Tomlinson said that children should be formally canvassed for their views about their school by means of a questionnaire.

At the moment, inspectors chat informally to children while they carry out checks on standards at a school.

They believe a wider survey of children's views could highlight problems which might otherwise stay hidden - such as bullying and racism at a school.