A Whinging Shop?
School Councils in theory provide an opportunity for pupil representation, a forum for discussion of issues and a chance for involvement in decision making. Many however, despite the best intentions, end up as little more than a 'whinging shop' where children focus on the minutiae rather than on wider issues.

The Advisory Group on Citizenship concluded that, effective schools are those which 'empower [young people] to participate in society effectively as active, informed, critical and responsible citizens of our democracy and of the wider world.' If School Councils are to provide an opportunity for students to develop these political literacy skills and engage in active citizenship they will need to involve pupils at all levels of debate and decision making taking place in the school.

Democratic
Often, issues bought to School Councils are those suggested by the children themselves. Such issues, important and essential as they are to a democratically elected School Council, can, if they are the only issues discussed, prevent the council addressing the 'broader issues'.

A school which encourages its School Council to address school policy and practice issues, or where addressing such issues is written into a 'School Council constitution', is also more likely to look at the wider world. The greater the level of input into the School Council and the more seriously feedback from it is taken, the higher profile it will have and the more likely it is to have a broad agenda.

Acknowledging Importance
If the whole school community acknowledges the importance of the School Council and all participants in the school community including catering staff, governors and parents contribute to the School Council agenda, the issues addressed are likely to be far broader. Members of the local community such as neighbours, community groups, councillors, and the police can also offer issues for discussion, to help the Council consider the wider issues beyond the school gates. Furthermore a school where global citizenship is integrated throughout the curriculum and forms part of the school ethos is more likely to have a School Council which considers such issues.

Councils are more likely to learn about the school, local and even global implications of decision making where they consult a wide range of stakeholders before arriving at decisions. This broad range of input into the council is more likely to result in well-informed and balanced decision making. In short the council will be more closely following a meaningful process that accurately reflects systems of democratic society.