The PDCS Senedd is a new approach to pupil voice for Pembroke Dock Community School. The Senedd was introduced in September 2025 with the intention to provide every learner in school a voice, after identifying that the traditional pupil voice groups, like School Council and Eco Committee, only provided a small number of children the opportunity to use their voices for change. 

As well as providing pupils with a voice, the Senedd was introduced to develop children’s understanding of how decisions are made in Wales and how the Senedd Cymru works. We hope that this approach will encourage early interest in Welsh politics and promote aspirations to make a change in their community. 

The Senedd is made up of 12 departments, as closely linked to the official Senedd departments as possible whilst still lending themselves to the curriculum. 

Our Senedd includes Departments for:

• Arts and Culture, 
• Community and Cynefin, 
• Education, 
• Emotional Well-being, 
• Energy and Environment, 
• Equality and Human Rights, 
• Languages, 
• Media and Communications, 
• Safeguarding, 
• Science and Technology, 
• Social Justice, 
• Sports and Physical Health. 

Each child in the Upper School (Year 3 – Year 6) has been assigned to a department, based on their own areas of interest, with each Department having a ‘link class’ in the lower school (Reception – Year 2) or in the Learning Resource Centre. Our Senedd is led by our First Minister and Deputy First Minister, elected by the learners, who are responsible for ensuring all change is implemented and nurtured.

Our First Minister, Mason, has really enjoyed taking on the prestigious role. 

“I am so proud to be the First Minister of PDCS Senedd as I love that it is an inclusive way to make changes by working with pupils across the school.”

In September, Departments generated aims for the year, elected a Head of Department and created an Action Plan to improve both our school and the community, and to work towards the Global Goals. Our departments meet fortnightly to work towards their actions and liaise with their lower school link as and when necessary – to ensure all perspectives are gained. Every half term the Heads of each Department meet with the Headteacher to update her on their progress, and a termly newsletter is published on social media to update our families and stakeholders. Parents have praised the new approach for allowing children to “work collaboratively towards a shared goal” and “actually making changes that children want to see”. 

Each department is well underway working towards their Action Plans, and some have already made excellent changes including reviewing policies and promoting healthy lifestyles. The Department for Arts and Culture have planned a Culture Café event to celebrate all cultures, religions and languages – inviting families in to share their experiences. The Department for Safeguarding have created child-friendly Safeguarding and Anti-Bullying policies, and the Department for Social Justice have been promoting children’s rights and have plans to tackle antisocial behaviour in our area.  Also, The Department for Equality and Human Rights have created a pupil-friendly Anti-Racism policy and welcome packs for new families with key information, in a range of languages.

Lily, Head of the Department of Equality and Human Rights, says 

“I am very proud of our new Welcome Packs as I think they are the perfect way to make new children feel welcome. If I put myself in their shoes, this is exactly what I would want.”

Although it’s early days, transitioning to a new approach to pupil voice is already proving rewarding, engaging and worthwhile for learners in Pembroke Dock Community School – encouraging all learners to use their voice to make the changes they want to see. 

What are you planning to do next in the DARPL Community of Practice? 

To find out more about joining DAN (follow this link): Advocacy Network – DARPL

To find out more about attending ELS (follow this link): Enhanced Leadership Series – DARPL