Evaluation of a RIGHT blether - York Consulting

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Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young PeopleEvaluation of a RIGHT blether“Our pupils completed their responses in mixed-stage groups,with older pupils assisting younger pupils. This cross-stageworking model was so successful in our school we now have aweekly 'get-together session' with this format, and it has beenbeneficial to both pupils and staff” (Primary school deputeheadteacher);High-quality and adaptable materials and resources for schools andyouth organisations to use immediately;Delivering more than one element of a RIGHT blether over a period oftime: findings from the evaluation suggest that the individual elementshave more impact when delivered together.Challenges2.27 A number of issues were faced at a local level that presented challenges foreffective delivery. These include:Short lead-in time prior to the consultation and VOTE: some LAs andschools found it difficult to integrate the initiative into their existingplans and activity:“It was quite rushed – it came from nowhere. We needed moretime to get organised. We didn’t use the packs as effectively aswe could have done due to time” (Primary headteacher);Limited resources and capacity within a LA to take it forward: LAs withno lead person to take it forward and coordinate others are more likelyto struggle to promote the consultation and provide support to schoolsand organisations:24
Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young PeopleEvaluation of a RIGHT blether“Too much reliance on individuals taking it forward and ontheir good will rather than a consistent and systematicapproach. I could only really use my links – in my work I haveno contacts with primary schools for example so in their case itwas up to the education officers to take forward. It goes frombeing a national drive to being dependent on one youthsessional worker” (LA rep);“In my view the resource packs could have been used acrosssubject areas in several areas of the curriculum but it is notclear how they were disseminated to reach subject leaders” (LArep);Providing feedback, such as VOTE results, to children and youngpeople as soon as possible after the consultation: although feedbackwas sent to higher level staff (e.g. Directors of Education within the LA)by the Commissioner’s team we have found that it did not always filterdown to those who delivered a RIGHT blether. Feedback is important to‘close the loop’ i.e. show how the Commissioner plans to act upon theviews of children and young people, which in turn shows that theirviews are taken seriously. It also maintains momentum of the initiative:“Children often complain they are consulted but then receiveno feedback” (LA rep);“[Some young people] did not engage with [a RIGHT blether]because there was nothing tangible happening quickly ornothing that they could see that would directly affect them”(Primary school teacher);Heavy snow meant attendance at organised external events was lowerthan anticipated.25
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Evaluation of a RIGHT blether - York Consulting

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