Priyanka Soni

What is Participatory Action Research?
A research approach where researchers and participants work together to explore lived experiences. Repeated cycles of planning, acting, observing, and reflecting deepen understanding and provide a powerful tool for amplifying pupil voice and supporting children in contributing to school improvement and strategic planning.

What will pupils learn?
While investigating school spaces, pupils will grow in confidence, self-expression, active listening, and collaborative working. This project
encourages pupils to become thoughtful spatial thinkers and empowered voices in their school community.

How does this benefit schools?

• Amplifies pupil voice: Encourages students to express their ideas, opinions, and experiences, fostering a sense of ownership and belonging.
• Promotes a sense of belonging: Builds stronger connections between students and their school by involving them in meaningful decisions about their environment.
• Supports sustainable school improvement: Provides actionable, student-driven insights to create spaces that enhance engagement, well-being, and a positive school culture

Working together as researchers to explore, reimagine and design better spaces for learning and well-being through four workshops:

1. Space Explorers: Using stories, walks, and creative mapping to discover how we experience our school spaces
2. Space Detectives: Observing and documenting how different spaces work and feel through journaling and investigation
3. Space Designers: Reimagining our school spaces through creative writing and collaborative dreaming
4. Space Architects: Creating our ideal school by bringing together all our ideas and visions for the future

You can download a copy of Priyanka’s project summary here: Reimagining School Spaces