All Chalk
All Chalk
Podcast Description
All Chalk is a podcast celebrating the power of education to help young voices to speak up and create a fairer world.
Each week, we sit down with inspiring teachers or educators to explore their stories, insights, and the impactful work they're doing to foster inclusivity and encourage student participation.
Whether it's school councils, debating, democracy or participation, All Chalk uncovers the real stories behind the people making this happen every day.
New episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & more!
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on themes of inclusivity, student participation, and educational empowerment with episodes discussing innovative school councils, the role of student voice in democracy, and how educators foster engagement among young learners.
All Chalk is a podcast celebrating the power of education to help young voices to speak up and create a fairer world.
Each week, we sit down with inspiring teachers or educators to explore their stories, insights, and the impactful work they’re doing to foster inclusivity and encourage student participation.
Whether it’s school councils, debating, democracy or participation, All Chalk uncovers the real stories behind the people making this happen every day.
New episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & more!
How can pupil voice thrive in a specialist SEMH setting?
In this episode of All Chalk, Greg chats with Damien Cresswell, Associate Head of Parkhouse School, an SEMH school in South Yorkshire and part of the Keys Group. Damien shares how their school council has evolved into a powerful, inclusive platform for student voice that goes far beyond traditional models.
With just 24 pupils, Parkhouse School shows what’s possible when every student is heard. Their approach uses the Smart School Councils programme to embed class meetings and regular debates into school life, building students’ confidence, communication skills, and ability to engage with real-world issues.
In this episode, we discuss:
How Parkhouse School moved from a tokenistic student council to a whole-school approach
Why school councils matter in SEMH and specialist settings
How class meetings promote respectful debate, discussion, and real action
How pupils are now connecting global issues – like recycling or politics – to tangible school changes
What it takes to scale pupil voice across 25 specialist schools in the Keys Group
Whether you're teaching in a mainstream classroom or a specialist provision, Damien’s story is a compelling example of how school councils can be reimagined to empower everylearner, not just the loudest.
Stay Connected:
More about us: http://smartschoolcouncils.org
Follow us on X/Twitter: https://x.com/SSCCTY
Learn more about Park House School: https://www.keyschildren.co.uk/schools/park-house-school/
Learn more about Keys Group: https://www.keys-group.co.uk/
Follow Keys Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KeysGroupLtd
Disclaimer
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