Suggestions included carrying out playground improvements, providing fresh fruit and developing a 'chill-out' room.

At an awards ceremony, the enterprising pupils were rewarded for tackling educational issues which are important to them.

The Student Council awards evening took place at the Gateway Hotel in Cinderhill.

The successful pupils were treated to dinner by Andy Powell, who is chief executive of Edge, the education foundation that funded the Pupil Voice Project.

The young people were encouraged to develop their ideas into a project to present to a meeting of their school's Student Council.

The pupils then took the results of their projects out on the road, with each group presenting their ideas at ten schools across the area.

The successful teams were rewarded with £500 from Edge to carry out their ideas.

Presenting the awards, Andy said: "The young people came up with some superb ideas for this scheme, which was all about finding out how they would improve their own school experience.

"By funding this project, we are giving a voice to the very people who matter most so that they can make a difference to their own education."

Andy was so impressed with the children's proposals that Edge have decided to extend the funding of the project for another year.

The scheme was set up by Bulwell Education Action Zone, the education improvement partnership, in conjunction with funding from Edge.

The foundation are sponsoring Bulwell Academy, which is set to open in September 2009.

It will cater for 1,050 pupils between 11 and 16 with a further 250 places available for post -16 students..