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The School Council is in place to serve the needs of all the children and ensure their views are heard. Each Autumn an election is held and candidates share their manifestoes in the hope of being elected. Reception pupils are represented by the previous year's year five pupils. Meetings are held fortnightly and are guided by Mrs Peacock. In the time the school council has been formed here at Trellech they have achieved a great deal to improve the lives of their fellow pupils. These achievements include: Our School Council for 2009-10 is: RG6 - Theo and Tom, RG5 - Gemma and Dawn, RG4 - Cassie and Ryan, RG2 - Anwen and Oliver, RG1 - Ava and Lewis, Reception - Jordan (Year 6) School Council Elections - September The school council is elected by all pupils in the school. Voting takes place in the Autumn Term. The current School Council are hoping to arrange a fundraising day to help restock the schools libraries.
What other things might the school council do?
It discusses things that pupils would like to improve about their school and presents their ideas to the people who run the school. School councils often have money to spend to help make things happen.
What would you change?
Here are some of the things that a School could discuss.....there are many more areas.
- developing resources and facilities such as the school library, sports,music or drama facilities;
- improvements to the school environment such as toilets, litterschool décor; the playground, recycling
- bullying, mentoring, pupil welfare, pastoral support arrangements;
- the transition from primary to secondary school and to tertiary or further or higher education;
- healthy eating and healthy recreation;
- improvements to learning, additions or changes to the timetable or to the curriculum such as the provision of new subject or different sports;
- involvement in school staff appointments;
- lunchtime and after school activities;
- fundraising/use of any allocated budget;
- school meals;
- school uniform;
- pupil attendance;
- school transport/safe routes to school;
- code of conduct for teacher-pupil relations;
- decisions regarding the running of the school (school policies, code of conduct, ethos etc);
- links with the local community/local community projects e.g. environmental projects; and
- representations to the local authority on issues of concern to pupils e.g. transport.
- Who might be involved?
All pupils in the school have a voice and are involved in class discussions. The elected pupils represent their class on the school council and adults support the council. It is important that the whole school helps to put the plans into action.
Some of the words that you might hear the school council using
Action points
A short sentence, which says the job or task, that needs doing, for example, write to the Head teacher about the food in the canteen. The name of the person that will carry out the task is written in the minutes.
Agenda
A list of things that will be discussed in the meeting. It will also have the date, time and room
The agenda is usually decided before the meeting perhaps with the help of the school council link teacher. The agenda is given to the other councillors before the meeting so that they can talk to the people in their class.
Any Other Business
Things that are not on the agenda that can be discussed quickly at the end of the meeting.
Apologies
Messages from people that cannot attend the meeting.
Chair or Chairperson
The person in charge of the meeting; elected by the rest of the School Council. Helps to prepare the agenda.
Majority
When most people at the meeting agree about something that is being discussed.
Minutes
The notes of the discussions at the last meeting. Each councillor needs a copy to report back to their class. The minutes will show what has to be done who is going to do it
Participation
The right to be involved in making decisions or planning and reviewing and action that might affect you. Having a voice, having a choice.
Representative
A pupil that has been elected to be part of the Year/School Council.
School Council
A group of pupils who represent everyone in their school.
Secretary
The secretary has two important roles:
To prepare the agenda with the chairperson and link teacher and publicise the next meeting.
To take notes during the School Council meeting, prepare the minutes and give the minutes to the class representatives, link teacher etc
Vote
A way of helping to make a decision after a discussion.