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school
councils
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School Councils, why bother?Don't forget the school council section in Eastendtalking.org.uk |
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If you are wondering what all the fuss is about, have a look at what educationalists, teachers, parents and students have to say about School Councils
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transformed our school |
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"School councils and class councils…can be a most excellent training ground in responsibility for future citizens [and are] an obvious sign that a school takes citizenship seriously." Professor Bernard Crick, Chair of the Advisory Group on Citizenship
"Having a Pupil Council…has transformed our school by the responsible decisions that it has taken… In our school we have organised events and fund raising activities to buy equipment to improve our playtimes. The number of badly behaved pupils has dropped. Being a councillor is a lot of responsibility.
Listening and advising can be a very
hard job. Pupils respect the councillors and know they are good friends
to everyone. Bullying has diminished
in our school because councillors look, listen and support all children.
We believe that our Pupil Council has made our school a better place
- a place where children's opinions count. We believe every school
should have a Pupil Council." (Windsor
primary School, Toxteth, Pupil Council statement) |
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| a sense of responsibility and belonging | ||
"A School Council can play a major role in enriching the education of many students, in addition to those who get actively involved. Above all it breaks down barriers and helps to set a new agenda of 'we are all in this together - so let's make it work'. As a member of staff it has restored my faith in the future of young people and what they are capable of". (Head Teacher) "I have been impressed with the qualities it has revealed in the children involved so far. Peer group pressure can be an amazing tool when used the right way." (Head Teacher) "I am in full support of the Council. I firmly believe that students should play a significant part in the formulation of school policy…I feel that by involving students in this way, they gain ownership, a sense of responsibility and belonging. In the long term, this will lead to improved innovation and commitment thus facilitating and promoting good relationships, a willingness to work and a mature and responsible outlook to school [an a ] move from an 11-16 school to a school which emerges from the community and a school which serves the community." (Head Teacher) |
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| Things have got much better now | ||
"My understanding of the Pupil Council programme is that it is a liason between pupils of different age groups and teachers. My son has become more aware of other children and people, he is also more politically aware." (Parent)
"I came from a school which did not have a council and did not think it would make that much difference. But it does! We send tutor group representatives to the council. We discuss what we think should be on the agenda and what they have discussed at the previous meeting. Sometimes we don't feel we get a fair hearing and we can not discuss certain things such as uniform, but I would not want to go back to a school which did not have one, because on balance we are all treated equally and while it is not perfect it is better than many students have." (Year 10 student)
"Things have got much better now…the councillors tell the children not to call me names and now they have stopped doing it." (Primary pupil) Do you or anyone in your school community have a comment to make on School Council's? Please add your voice through the forum.
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