School Council

Welcome to our School Council page! Here you can find out lots of information, including regular updates about our meetings! 

What is school council?

The school council is a group of children elected by their classmates who represent their views and make a positive contribution towards school life. This could involve developing spaces around school such as the library, improving exciting learning opportunities or addressing issues that need resolving!

The representatives meet regularly with the headteacher to discuss issues about school and any matters their class would like to raise. They plan and carry out fundraising events to make improvements to our school.

What qualities do the school council representatives need to have?

We would like our elected School Council Representatives to demonstrate our Core Values:

Respect

Kindness

Honesty

Curiosity

Determination

Dignity

Integrity

Every child from Y2 to Y6 is being given the opportunity to write their own manifesto (in the form of an application) to present to their classmates.  Your child may bring these home and ask for your help if they are interested in taking on this exciting role!

What will happen on Election Day?

Every member of each class will vote for one person who they think will make a good School Council Rep.

Votes will be cast on ballot papers and then put into ballot boxes in the School Hall.

Dates to remember:

Children can start planning and writing their manifestos as soon as possible.

Friday 3rd March- Read/share your manifestos to the rest of your class (teachers will support with this)

Thursday 9th March- School Council Elections

Friday 10th March- Announcements of new School Council Representatives in Whole School Celebration Assembly

Lots of children across the year groups have already shown excitement about this opportunity and even those who do not wish to apply have commented that School Council is a good way for children’s ideas and opinions to be heard.

Glossary

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

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

Motion - an idea for the council to discuss 

Meetings

School council meetings are held every Tuesday morning at 9am. For the meeting to go ahead there must be at least 8 school council members present.

Decisions will be made using a hands up or blind voting system. If a decision can’t be reached, it will be put to the whole school. Ideas and questions are put to classes/the whole school before they are voted on in school council.

Who are the School Council Members?

All members of the school council have a role and these are selected in a democratic election process where members vote with a show of hands.

Chairperson

The chairperson runs the meetings. First, they read through the last week’s minutes to check they are a true reflection of what happened; if all members agree, the minutes are signed.

The chair then forms and shares the meeting’s agenda with the school council and works through this.

Vice Chairperson

The vice chairperson needs to be prepared to lead the meeting if the chair is absent. They also support the Chairperson in their role, when required.

When the minutes have been signed, the Vice Chair takes them to the office to be filed.

Public Liason Officer

The Public Liaison Officer lets the whole school know what is going on in school council. They update the website, provide write-ups for the newsletter and write up any news for the School Council display board.

Secretary

The secretary takes notes (minutes) in all meetings and ensures there are enough copies to be looked at the next meeting. It is also their job to do the register.

Vice Secretary

The Vice Secretary needs to be prepared to take notes if the secretary is absent. They also support the Secretary in their role, when required.

Treasurer

The treasurer records any money raised, donated or spent for the school council

Alerting Team

The alerting team ensures that all children are aware when school council will take place and they assist any younger members.

Committee Members

These members listen to the Chairperson and contribute their own and the ideas of their class and vote for any ideas put forward.

The Link Teacher

The link teacher is a member of staff.

Link Teaching Assistant

The link teaching assistant is a member of staff