The School Council September 2024

We have our school council for this academic year — congratulations to you all:

Y2: Toronto = Sonny W and Daisy W and New York = Mia L and Tommy A;

Y3: Rio = Coralie D and Ruby W and La Paz = Coby P and Luna M;

Y4: Timbuktu = Hayden G and Eloise B and Antananarivo = Connor L and Lucy M;

Y5: Shanghai = Lily B and Marshall D and Bangkok = Evie B and Mikey M and

Y6: Suva = Tommie-Lee W and Emily B and Honiara = Lily-Rae C and Ire A.

Our School Council

Our School Council aims to encourage our children to:

Develop confidence and responsibility and make the most of their abilities
Prepare them to play an active role as citizens
Develop healthy, safer lifestyles
Develop good relationships and respect the differences between people
To have a “voice” and to share their opinions and ideas with others

Why?

We value the benefits of operating a School Council. The School Council represents the whole school. We feel they benefit the whole community and as a school we operate as a community. Through our School Council and class council work it is hoped that we can develop a balance and wholeness, helping to make our community more harmonious to live in. Our School Council work will enable pupils with positive attitudes to exert a positive influence. Everyone will benefit from the work of the School Council.

Our School Council aims to ensure our children have the opportunity to:

Make sure that our school is a safe and happy place for our children.
Have a place where children can voice their concerns.
Encourage all children in the school to suggest improvements.
Make sure any suggestions or concerns are listened to and acted upon.

Our School Council should encourage pupils to develop:

A sense of ownership over policy and practice
A consensus over school issues such as behaviour
A responsibility towards the school community and environment

Our School Council should give pupils the experience of:

Planning, organising and monitoring small projects
Speaking and listening skills
Debating skills
Mediation and negotiating skills
Basic budgeting and managing money

Our School Council aims to prepare our pupils for citizenship by teaching them about roles, rights and responsibilities within the school system.

Elections:

Class elections will be held every year so that different representatives can put forward their election speeches as well as developing the full potential of the School Council to complete tasks. Two candidates will be elected from each class from Y1 to Y6.

Organisation:

Two representatives from each Y1 to Y6 class
Link Teacher
An agenda is to be organised by the link teacher
Minutes will be recorded by the children
The School Council can bid for funding from the school budget. They will need to prepare a proposal, manage any delegated funds, and report on the impact.

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.

Link between the School and Class Councils:

Each class will operate a class council in which issues are discussed associated with their class. If, however, an issue does occur which they feel needs to be forwarded to the School Council, then the issue will be presented to the School Council through the class representative.

Feedback will be provided from each School Council Meeting through minutes from the meetings and feedback from the link teacher.

Running the School Council Meetings:

The School Council will vote for a chair. This is the person who makes sure everyone gets a turn to speak and encourages all members to contribute. In addition, the School Council will ensure someone takes notes during the meeting and the notes should assist the feedback classes receive after the meeting.

At the end of the School Council’s meeting, everyone needs to know what they have to do next. The chair needs to make sure members know what to do and what they have to say to their class.

Giving Feedback to Pupils:

Following the School Council Meeting, School Council Members speak to their class to let them know what is going on and tell the class about the issues being discussed and what is happening next. This will encourage more children to contribute to further meetings, share worries and let members know the things which could be done to improve the school. The school will record School Council Achievements on the school newsletter as and when appropriate.

The School council will also feedback through Key Stage Assemblies twice a year.

School Council Meeting Minutes

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