Rethinking school culture through Student Voice: participation, well-being, and educational transformation in upper secondary schools

Abstract

The international educational debate increasingly emphasizes the role of schools as spaces of well-being, inclusion, and democratic participation. In Italy, however, upper secondary schools remain largely tied to transmissive models, marked by distance from students, limited relational attention, and organizational rigidity. Combining a mixed-methods explanatory sequential design with participatory research pathways, the project La scuola siamo noi! (We Are the School!) advances a transformative model that redefines roles, relationships, and school cultures, fostering active citizenship and democratic governance. The findings highlight how the valorization of student voice and research as a formative device—despite obstacles and challenges—supports authentic processes of change, promoting a democratic and inclusive school culture that generates belonging and well-being.