OAT Regional and National Elections 2023

Dear Parent/Carers,

It is with great pleasure I write to inform you about the wonderful student voice opportunities here at Ormiston NEW Academy. In collaboration with the wider Ormiston Academies Trust (OAT) network, we have launched the Regional Student Voice (RSV) elections this week and we have many students who have already expressed an interest in taking part.

You may not be aware, but we are one of 43 OAT academies educating over 33,000 students across England. Not only do we want to know and understand what matters most to our students at Ormiston NEW Academy but as one of the largest Multi Academy Trusts (MAT) in the country, there is a real powerful opportunity to collect the views of tens of thousands of young people. The diagram below shows how the structure of student voice works across the trust.

With your support we would like to encourage as many of our students to run for election and to hold one of the 23 positions in the West OAT region. Interested students will be given a nomination pack and will be supported in how to prepare for election day, which will be held on Wednesday 20 September. Those students who are elected to the regional positions will be able to put themselves forward for the positions of chair, vice-chair and secretary of our region. Those students will then form the 20 students for OAT National Student Voice, therefore representing over 33,000 students across the country. We would certainly be very excited to have students from our academy leading change at that level.

Student voice is a powerful mechanism and is incredibly important to us. Over the last year, our academy student voice and OAT regional and national student voice members have worked together to identify where young people would like to enact change and make a difference. However, there are some issues that always remain top of the agenda. Things such as promoting positive mental health, enrichment opportunities, eco and climate change awareness, equality and diversity to name a few.

We hope that in giving our students opportunities to express themselves, make a difference, feel that their opinion is valued, and their voice is heard, will give them key skills that will prepare them for many opportunities in the future.

For your information, I have included details about the roles and responsibilities of RSV members. If you have any further questions about student voice, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Yours sincerely,
Mrs Attwater
Enrichment and Student Voice Lead