By Tamasine McCaig

I’m a parent to three noisy, opinionated, passionate children.
At home, they feel free to speak their minds, share their opinions, and ask hard questions. I’m lucky - because I know this sense of empowerment is precious (even if sometimes I just want a quiet life!)

But when they walk through the school gates, something shifts. They often tell me they feel disempowered, insignificant, and sometimes even "too much."

As someone who has spent the last year helping to build Citizen Collective, and now giving my energy to shaping ACTionism - a space to inspire collective action - I know this matters deeply.

If we want a future built on empathy, courage, and real change, we have to teach our children now that their voices matter, and that their actions can shape their communities.

That’s why, when Citizen Collective spoke with Greg Sanderson and teacher Rachel Gray about Smart School Councils (SSC), I was genuinely excited.

Because SSC isn’t just another school initiative. It is a movement - a brilliant, affordable way to bring democracy, leadership, and action into every classroom.

The Problem: Who Gets Heard?

Too often in schools, only the loudest, most confident children are heard.
Traditional school councils unintentionally reinforce this, offering leadership experiences to a select few while leaving many without the chance to develop essential skills like empathy, collaboration, and critical thinking. My own daughter sat on her Primary School Council and reported back that even when her and her classmate would take ideas forward, things rarely changed - it felt like lip service* to an idea (my words not hers)

The Solution: Every Child a Voice, Every Child an Actionist

Smart School Councils change that. They're a charity offering a simple, affordable platform that ensures every pupil, not just a chosen few, gets a voice.

Through pupil-led, weekly meetings, even four-year-olds learn to:

• Speak up
• Feel valued and listened to
• Take collective action

They are not just "preparing for one day."
They are practising democracy, leadership, and teamwork now — shaping school life, making real choices, and seeing the direct impact of their actions.

Why It Matters to Me — and to All of Us

As parents, carers, and educators, we have the power to raise a generation who believe that change is possible - because they have experienced it first-hand.

Smart School Councils make that real, every week, in ways that children love and understand.

If we truly believe in nurturing young Citizens, not just future voters - if we believe in growing engaged Citizens - we need to start here.

Ready to Help Your School Take the First Step?

Here’s how you can find out more:

One-pager for Teachers — explains how the tool works, how it fits into the school day and curriculum, and costs (around £300 a year — affordable for most schools).

Learn more about Smart School Councils on thier website here or download the Citizen Collection Call summary notes here.

Because the world does not change by us sitting around and waiting for someone else. It changes when people (even four-year-olds) step up together.