We are delighted to share that Highgate has won the Best of the Best Senior School category for Best for Pupil Voice in the Autumn/Winter 2025 issue of The Week Independent Schools Guide.
As an official school objective for several years now, Pupil Voice has a significant impact on the positive and welcoming community that Highgate strives to be. As well as providing formal communication channels for us to listen and find out how best to respond to issues raised, it is a chance for our young people to impact their community.
The Head Adam Pettitt explains: “Harnessing pupil voice makes it easier for us to make good decisions, but it’s so much more than that. Young people gain experience in decision-making and exerting influence in ways that change behaviour, or don’t; the accountability and responsibility they take on gives them validation, increases their credibility and – valuable extras! – creates pride and purpose.”
Pupils visit Senior Team and Governor meetings, and strategic decision making frequently refers to pupil experience, from policy development to curriculum planning. There is a ‘Pupil Action Committee’ in every year group, along with a Lower School Council, Sixth Form Council and an Anti-Bullying Committee. Pupils share their experiences and suggestions and can see the tangible results around school.
Yoni in Y13 is part of Sixth Form Council and explains how “The School has helped me to grow as a student and as a person, so I feel that it’s appropriate to take responsibility to help improve school life for pupils after me, just as I know they will do in the future.”
He adds, “I’ve recently been involved in discussions about improving online safety for pupils in the Lower School, which has given me a perspective and awareness about the dangers they frequently face. I hope that our next actions will help support these pupils so that they are better suited to navigate what has become a toxic online environment.”
In 2024-25, Sixth Form pupils took part in a ‘MetGirlz’ project with the Met Police (above), proposing initiatives to improve the experience of girls and women in London – including making it mandatory for clubs and bars to offer spiking test kits and a TfL version of the ‘Ask for Angela’ initiative – which have been endorsed by Senior Police Officers.
The Environment Committee plays an active role in driving change across the community and pupils can see the impact they’ve had, such as cutting out plastic water bottles completely, changing travel habits to be more eco-friendly, ‘Meat-Free Mondays’, and the decision to grow our own Christmas trees on site.
Peter, Pupil Head of School (below), reflects on his experience of being part of Highgate’s African Caribbean Society, which meets regularly, saying: “We’re now working towards setting up termly sessions where younger pupils can share their experiences and feel comfortable in their identity. Being involved has shown me how important it is to create spaces where people feel welcome and represented, and it makes the school community stronger as a whole.”
Highgate’s PSHE curriculum is regularly reviewed and updated with pupil input, working with boys and girls to design the course and ensure it is empowering for all genders. Pupils have helped us to develop the school’s Anti-Sexism plan, reviewing policies, introducing an anonymous reporting system, as well as inputting to the school’s work on anti-bullying and racial inclusion.
Highgate is a place where what you say really matters, and we expect pupils to play their part. As the Head, Adam Pettitt, concludes: “Pupil voice is an essential investment in their future and of their future communities, and it’s also making our school so much better. All-round winning!”
