What is a School Council?

The school council is a group of pupils who are elected to represent the views of all pupils and to improve their school.  It gives the children a voice and allows children to raise issues and concerns or suggest ideas.  Members of the school council are responsible for putting forward views of other children in the school.  They meet (with a teacher present) to discuss and sort out problems and ideas.

Why have a School Council?

Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) says that children and young people should have a say in decisions that affect their lives. A school council can provide a meaningful way in which pupils can voice their opinions and have their views taken into account in decisions which impact upon them.

Having an effective school council, which involves the whole school, is beneficial to the whole community and also individuals as it gives children a say in matters that affect their school and wider lives.  It helps our school develop into a caring community where pupils, teachers and parents/carers work in partnership towards shared goals.

OUR SCHOOL COUNCIL

At Shirland Primary School the council meets every Monday after school with Miss Vessey. They also have designated time during Monday morning assemblies to feedback to the whole school.

Any child in the school can be a school councillor. This year our school council is lucky enough to have twelve brilliant and very inspired representatives elected by their peers.  Each member has a special badge, so that you can see them easily around school

Our school council develops active learning of important life skills.  Members are given opportunities to:

• Play an active role as citizens and develop responsible attitudes
• Develop good relationships and respect the differences between people
• Have a “voice” and to share their opinions and ideas with others
• Build teamwork, mediation, debating and negotiation skills
• Develop problem-solving skills, self-esteem and self-confidence

• Help create a safe, happy and fair learning environment
• Create a forum to voice their concerns and act upon them
• Experience a democratic process
• Plan, organize and monitor small projects (including basic budgeting and managing money)

It is a very responsible job, and school council members will share information with their class, and get ideas and views from pupils by talking and holding surveys.

Some of the activities the school council team have been involved with this year include:

• Working with Miss Harrison and Mrs. Clarke to organize and monitor recycling boxes throughout the school
• Carrying out a survey of children’s opinions and planning actions based on the findings
• Planning anti-bullying activities for the whole school during anti-bullying week
• Creating a suggestion box for the whole school
• Discussing ideas to improve our quiet area
• Creating a book of playground games
• Evaluating ideas for a new school sign
• Planning and delivering a French quiz for KS2 pupils