Why do we have a School Council?
At Uplands Junior L.E.A.D Academy we respect and value the thoughts and opinions of our children. The school encourages children to have their voice heard through School Council meetings, lessons and everyday school life. The School Council is an ideal opportunity for pupils to get more involved in the way the school operates and be a part of some decision-making. Whilst it may not always be possible or practical to do everything the children suggest, the children do have some fantastic ideas and are able to accept why some ideas may not work well for the school.
Being a member of the School Council benefits the whole school, pupils and teachers, because it provides opportunities for pupils to communicate their feelings and opinions on aspects that they feel are important to them.
Councillors develop life skills such as confidence, communication and negotiation. It is the responsibility of each Councillor to ensure that they express their own views and the views of the children in our school.
Who would make a good School Councillor?
Any child in the school can stand to be a school council representative for their class. It is not a decision made by teachers, and is not decided based on academic ability. A good School Councillor does need to have some of the following qualities:
- Good communication skills (speaking and listening)
- Being a team player
- Interested to learn more about our school
- Keen to make a contribution to improving and maintaining the great work that we do in our school
- Able to represent the views of other children in their class
- Willing to give up some of their own time to attend meetings at lunchtimes
- Can contribute ideas to the School Council group
- Sets a good example to others.
We have a School Council with boys and girls representing their fellow pupils from each class in Years 3 to Year 6.
Each councillor is elected by their class at the beginning of the school year after a short presentation explaining why they should be elected. This develops children’s understanding of democracy which is part of our British Values. They also understand that with democracy comes responsibility.
What Do We Do?
Members of the School Council take part in discussions, 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.
Members meet regularly with Mrs Seedat to discuss ways in which they feel they can influence the school for the better. This may be ideas to improve playtimes, after school clubs, lessons or what charities they want to support through fund-raising activities.
Trust-wide council meeting
School Councils from every school within the Trust met on Teams last week. The aim is to give everyone across our Trust a voice so that children can have a say in the future. The hope is to have lots of opportunities to share ideas so that we can make things even better in our L.E.A.D. Academy Trust. The L.E.A.D Pupil Parliament will be made up of elected members from each academy who have been voted in by their school community. They will have a special role in representing their academy, making decisions for the Trust and giving all of our pupils a voice.
One of the first jobs the children do every year is to review and amend the Child Friendly Safeguarding Policies.