YOUTH councillors on the Isle of Wight are launching a new awards scheme for schools — one aimed at giving young people and students a voice.

Schools will be graded bronze, silver or gold based on the level of engagement they have with their pupils.

Schools which allow students to give feedback and are prepared to pilot changes suggested by young people will receive a bronze award.

However, schools which go further by having an elected student councillor and involve students in the interview process for new teaching staff, can apply for a silver award.

The top gold award will be reserved for schools which give pupils a direct link to the headteacher, has a student seat on the board of governors and a school council representative on the Isle of Wight Youth Council.

Youth council chairman, Tom Jackson, 17, said the idea stemmed from the council's manifesto, released earlier this year.

He said: "We want to encourage schools to engage with the youth councils and offer their young people more of a voice.

"We want to help young people on the Island have more of a discussion around the decisions that affect them."

Applications for the awards open in September, to be judged by the youth council.

Schools will be awarded a rating at the end of each term. The first awards will be handed out in December.

To find out more about the awards, e-mail youth.council@iow.gov.uk