A nursing student council combines representation and anonymous feedback

Updated Sep 07, 2026

Updated, 7 September 2026: We reviewed the complete paper and distinguished its reported benefits from evaluated effects.

What the case describes

Nicola Morrell-Scott describes a council in a UK nursing programme with more than 1,200 undergraduates. The account reports 52 council members, anonymous surveys, wider cohort feedback and meetings with programme and leadership teams. Four members left during the first term because of commitments including family and study.

The paper describes elected representatives, but also recruitment through staff recommendations and self-nomination with tutor endorsement. It calls the council representative without providing a demographic comparison with the whole programme. Lower focus-group participation among distance learners and sustained engagement remained challenges.

Examples of changes include placement uniforms following discussion of menopause, assessment scheduling and peer support. The author also reports better relationships, confidence, satisfaction and pass rates. However, the account provides no systematic evaluation method, baseline outcome figures, comparator or statistical analysis to establish those effects. Positive reports and examples should not be treated as proof of improved attainment or inclusion.

Questions for a council review

Our suggestion is to document how students join and who remains absent. A route designed for quieter students still needs evaluation of whether those students use it. Consider whether tutor endorsement creates barriers as well as providing support.

Publish the council’s remit and keep a record of decisions, including requests that cannot be taken forward. If the intended outcome is broader participation, measure reach and experience beyond council members. If the intended outcome is better learning, plan an evaluation that can distinguish the council’s contribution from other changes.

The student comment governance checklist can help structure that planning. These are our suggestions, not effects demonstrated for a feedback-analysis service.

Reference

Morrell-Scott, N. (2025). Case study: Engaging Students, Elevating Voices: The Role of a Student Council in Education. Student Engagement in Higher Education Journal, 7(1), 112–118. Open paper.