School Council

What is the School Council?

The school council works to make improvements to the school and the way we do things at Bell Lane. We look around for things that could be better and discuss what to do. Everyone gets a chance to speak and when we’ve finished we vote on the best ideas and then start working on changing things. Sometimes we have to talk to teachers and sometimes we have to make phone calls to people outside of the school.

Who are the School Council?

Every year we run an election campaign to vote for two new representatives for each class. A good representative will speak at the council meetings about things that their class is interested in. They will also tell their class about what is going on in the council meetings and put the minutes up in the classroom.

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:

  • A safe, happy and fair learning environment
  • A forum to voice their concerns and act upon them
  • A structured opportunity to learn problem-solving skills
  • An opportunity to take an active role in the organisation of the school
  • An opportunity to experience a democratic process

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. 

Organisation:

  • Two representatives from each KS2 class
  • One representative from each KS1 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 WLT. 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.

The School Council will be leading more meetings with the whole school to hear their feedback on a termly basis. Our school council will also work with the school council at Curwen Primary School to share good practice.

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.

 

We try to be very professional in the council so we use a lot of business words. Hopefully this will help.

Agenda - a list of things to talk about

Council - someone who has been voted for to work for their class mates on the school council

Minutes - the notes taken during a meeting so people can see what goes on

Motion - an idea for the council to discuss