Building a School Code of Ethics with Student Voice - Lauren Howard

What happens when a school stops telling students how to behave — and starts asking them to write the rules themselves? In this episode, we sit down with Lauren Howard, Wellbeing and PSE Lead at Stour Valley Community School, to explore how a student-led Code of Ethics became the backbone of their entire school culture. What started as a response to a difficult moment in their community grew into something far bigger — a whole-school commitment to respect, accountability, and genuine belonging. You'll hear why student voice isn't just a nice-to-have, it's the reason the Code actually sticks. When young people are the authors of their own values, they become the champions of them too. In this episode: How a Code of Ethics is built authentically with students, not for them Why restorative practices need a cultural foundation to be sustainable The peer mentoring program empowering students to lead from within Lauren's top 3 tips for schools ready to start their restorative journey Download this Episode's Shownotes: https://www.instituteforsel.net/posts/sel-cast-building-a-school-code-of-ethics-with-student-voice---with-lauren-howard