School Council

Together we Achieve

Members of our School and Year Councils have been democratically elected, which means that it is not only a privilege to serve as a member, but a great responsibility in representing those who have placed their trust in you.

The work of the School Council involves listening to others' points of view, debating, negotiating, making decisions, public speaking, attending events, meeting new people, representing the school and encouraging all to appreciate and celebrate the many successes of our school community.

The Year and School Councils are an important aspect of school life and I value the contribution they make to school life. 

Mrs M. Shepherd
Headteacher

What are School Councils about?

Here are some of the answers given by members of School Councils...

'Giving every student in the school a chance to express their view, knowing that they will be listened to and that their views will be seriously considered.'

'Giving students direct experience of creating new initiatives, solving problems and achieving their goals.'

'Sharing and exchanging ideas with students in other forms and other years.'

'Involoving the whole school community in developing shared standards of behaviour and maintaining them.'

'Respecting students as partners in their own education and in improving the school community.'

'Involoving students in making decisions in how the school is run.'

'Making sure that students have the right to express their views, and to have their views taken into account, on matters that concern their life in school, as called for in Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.'

The School Council Benefits the school as a whole by:

-Improving the quality of life for all members of the school commuinity.
-Promoting the personal development of the students
-Improving teacher/pupil relationships
-Creating a co-operative learning environment
-Supporting students' learning and their educational achievements
-Relating to the requirements of the national cirriculum for citizenship
-Relating to the whole school approach to student participation within the school development plan
-Creating a culture of respect for rights and responsibilities
-Recognizing active listening

The School Council allows students the opportunity to take part in decision-making about real issues, enbabling them to develop:

-The skills needed to participate as a citizen in a democratic society.
- An understanding of how representative structures become effective.
-The capacity to devise rules for democratic processes and to evaluate them.
-Other life-skills e.g. information gathering, collaboration, budgeting, evaluating priorities, reflecting on outcomes, communicating with others.
-Self-confidence and self-esteem.
-A responsible attitude to the immediate and wider communtiy.
-A sense of personal efficacy that will continue after leaving school.

Benefits for pupils:

-Develop new skills in debating, discussing and decision-making, which can boost confidence.
-Learn how to work in a team.
-Learn how democracy works and what it means to be an active citizen.
-Speak on issues and be listened to.
-Help decide school policies so that they are releveant and make sense to pupils.
-Develop a range of key skills, in particular, working with others, communciation, literacy, problem-solving.