Democratic Time

If you’ve ever heard of Golden Time, you’ll know it’s often used in schools as a short reward slot for good behaviour. At Northfields, we’ve taken that concept and reimagined it as something far more inclusive, creative, and meaningful. We call it Democratic Time.

Democratic Time takes place for about an hour each Friday afternoon, marking a joyful end to the week. But it’s not about reward or sanction — it’s about choice, participation, and belonging. Every pupil, regardless of their week, takes part. At the start of each half term, pupils vote on which activity they’d like to commit to, giving them a real say in shaping part of their school experience.

We believe that pupils of all ages should have the opportunity to make decisions about some aspects of their school week. When children are happy and engaged, they feel that they belong; they develop a sense of place, a voice, and a readiness to contribute to all areas of school life.

The activities themselves are as varied as our pupils’ interests — yoga and sport sessions that support wellbeing, arts and crafts that spark imagination and creativity, construction projects that build collaboration and problem-solving, and board games that encourage teamwork and communication. Each option has purpose, but all share the same spirit: learning together, through choice and joy.

Every week, classrooms hum with concentration and laughter. Pupils work alongside new friends, learn to listen, share, take turns, and see the value in others’ ideas. It’s pupil voice in action – woven into the fabric of our week.

Democratic Time perfectly embodies our REACH values:
Respect, Expression, Achievement, Creativity, and Hearts full of fun.
It’s one of the many ways we show that at Northfields, every child’s voice matters — and that learning, in all its forms, should be something pupils help to shape.