Brentford School for Girls prides itself on being a community that aims to involve students, teachers, governors, parents and wider community in everything that the school offers to develop the “Brentford Girl of the Future”.  These include holding annual events such as parent welcome evenings, an arts festival and school productions to name a few.  Many of these events are published in the termly “Highlights” magazine that showcases the school’s events for the previous term (https://www.brentford.hounslow.sch.uk/highlightsmagazine). 

The school also aims to gain feedback from a wide variety of stakeholders on a regular basis to enable the school to keep moving forward, with all those with an interest in the school contributing.  This includes scheduled stakeholder feedback weeks which include parent and staff surveys, parent consultations and numerous student council meetings.  All contribute greatly to informing the school on the many strengths that exist as well as informing decisions on what can allow the school to continue to move forward considering all of those who are part of the community.

At the beginning of the year the school introduced a new initiative to obtain student voice by introducing a “top table” forum to engage students in discussions with members of the senior leadership team.  This is something that has been successful in engaging different students in discussions with the decision makers of the school and giving a vital insight into the thoughts of those who experience life at the school most – the students.

When the canteen was refurbished in the summer, Marais Leenders (Executive Head) was keen to have a different seated area to be included in the design which enabled students to be especially selected to meet with members of her senior leadership team to gain their thoughts and opinions about different aspects of school life at Brentford.  As part of the initiative, the students receive an individual invitation and are given a free lunch to make the occasion special.  Topics discussed so far this year have included student voice in relation to marking and feedback in the school, the rewards system, what the schools vision of the “Future Brentford Girl” means to the students and making the most of Year 11.  Each session has enabled the school to consider the thoughts of the students and consider their opinions on things that have been introduced or are in the process of being considered.

The initiative has allowed students to give feedback in a more relaxed forum and the discussions have enabled the school to reflect on their points to inform developments in the areas.  As the “top table” is situated in the school canteen, it creates an interest among the other students to want to be involved in future discussions.  Students are engaged in the initiative and all year groups have been represented, with the hope that many students will take part by the end of the year.

If you would like to find out more about the school, please visit their website at www.brentford.hounslow.sch.uk