Young activists quiz disabled pupils at schools across England

Teenage campaigners are hoping a major consultation will provide a national snapshot of the experiences of disabled children in state schools.

The consultation was devised by 12 young disabled people from the mobility charity Whizz-Kidz, who are aged between 13 and 18.

The 12 all sit on the charity’s Kidz Board, helping to raise awareness of the charity and advising on key issues.

They are targeting more than 20,000 state-run primary, secondary and special schools across England with a confidential questionnaire that quizzes disabled pupils about life inside and outside the classroom.

It looks at areas including school transport, access, quality of teaching, how included they feel in school life, bullying, extra-curricular activities, work experience and careers.

It also asks how they think their school could be improved.

The project is backed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and has been sent out in a regular email to schools from children’s, schools and families secretary Ed Balls.

Jamie Green, 15, chair of the Kidz Board, said: “We believe that the results of the consultation could inform future policy and practice in education in ways that truly improve the lives of all disabled young people.

“We are very excited and proud to have had the opportunity to design something this large and important; and to have the backing of the DCSF is fantastic.”

Whizz-Kidz is hoping to present its findings to the DCSF on 16 December.

2 October 2009