Lecture delivered at the Geographical Association National Conference in Manchester, April 2016. ‘Students as stakeholders’ is not new, but embedding them into the fabric of the department through leadership, decision making and peer support can breed creativity and energy. This lecture will report on a case study from a high school in Norfolk that shows that, from leading lessons and field work groups to steering department policy, all that is needed is trust in your students. The resource is the lecture handout, with links to the referenced presentation, videos and materials included. I work very hard on making resources that are effective and engaging, so please leave me some kind feedback and visit my ‘Geogramblings’ website where more up-to-date stuff is available!