Some really interesting points. I need to read more on the numbers before I can fully concur (Is the school the core community for young people? Is the school a cohesive community, or does the artificial age-based constraint on who is or isn't a member (around 20% people join and leave each year in most schools) mean that it's better to look at the size of age cohorts and community building within those?)

However - the argument that we need young people participating in decision making in schools is spot on. Both because young people being involved in decision making creates responsibility, ownership of learning and better decisions - but also on the basis of a right of young people to be progressively involved in decision making. Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (ratified by every country apart from the US and Somalia) gives under 18's the right to be involved in decisions that affect them in line with their increasing capacities. And when young people are in school settings for upwards of 7 hours a day, decisions made there certainly affect them.