Why do we need a School Council?

For many years, all the decisions made about children were made by adults. This was thought to be best because adults are older and have experience, training and qualifications. But adults didn’t always make the right decisions, sometimes because they hadn’t talked with the children about the issue. All the countries in the world got together and agreed that children must be given rights. Plus, sometimes their ideas are actually better than the adults! So, the government decided that adults must listen to children before making a decision about them.

There is an international law called ‘The Convention on the Rights of the Child’, which nearly every country in the world have agreed to practice. There are many Articles in the Convention like the following:

Article 12 (Respect for the Views of the Child)

Children have the right to say what they think should happen, when adults are making decisions that affect them, and to have their opinions taken into account.

Article 13 (Freedom of Expression)

Children have the right to get and to share information as long as the information is not damaging to them or to others.

Article 15 (Freedom of Association)

Children have the right to meet together and to join groups and organisations as long as this does not stop other people from enjoying their rights.

What does our School Council Do?

The School Council is an ideal opportunity for pupils to get more involved in the way the school is run and influence decisions that are made within school. We respect and value the thoughts and opinions of our children and, whilst it may not always be possible or practical to do everything they suggest, the children do have some fantastic ideas.

Councillors develop skills such as confidence, communication and negotiation. It is the responsibility of each councillor to ensure that they express both their own views and the views of all the other pupils they represent. We want to encourage our pupils to respect the fundamental British Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs.

What does our School Council do?

Members of the Council take part in discussions and votes and also feedback any relevant information to their class. At times, they are requested to ask their class for ideas or take class votes relating to discussions by the Council.

Here are some recent projects:

• Recycling initiative: Working along with waste management partner of the school, we are working hard to make sure most of the waste generated by school is recycled and a very small portion goes to the land fill. We have new recycling bins in every classroom to help us segregate the waste straight away in the classroom. This encourages every child in the school to be part of the initiative, to be waste aware and contribute towards being a green school. We are having a ‘waste awareness’ assembly on the 19th June and the School Council are attending a workshop afterwards.
• PTA funding: We are very lucky to receive £250 of funding from the PTA each year.  This year we have decided to invest in some new play equipment for the playground.
• Litter picking: We have enthusiastic volunteers across the school, who give up their time during lunch break, to pick any stray litter from the school ground.
• Fundraising bake sale: We enjoyed organising a fundraising bake sale - while polishing our organisational and entrepreneurial skills and having fun - for Electric Umbrella whose cause aligns with our school values and British values of inclusion and tolerance. We managed to raise £210!