ShoutTawe

Information » Education » In School 11-16 » School Councils

• People under 18 have their own set of rights called the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

• The UNCRC says young people have a right to have a say in things that affect them and that they should be listened to and respected when decisions are made.

• It also says young people have the right to get information and say what they think as long as this doesn‘t go against other people‘s rights.

• The UNRC means that the Welsh Assembly Government must take children‘s rights very seriously and makes it important for young people to have their voice heard.

• The Welsh Assembly Government has introduced School Councils as one way of making sure young people have a say in what goes on in their school and in their education.

• All primary, secondary and special schools in Wales must have a school council and have held their first school council meeting by 1st November 2006.

What are school councils?

• A school council is a small group of pupils elected to represent other pupils in the school.

• The purpose of the school council is for young people to talk about things that relate to their school, their education and any other matter that concerns them.

• They can raise their issues and concerns with senior staff and governors of the school.

How do school councils work?

• Pupils are elected on to the school council by a secret ballot (vote).

• Any pupil wanting to get involved with the school council will be entitled to put their name forward and then young people in their form/year will be allowed to vote for them if they wish.

• Usually tutor group has a discussion then elects two pupils to represent them at regular meetings of a year council (e.g.Year 10, Year 11).

• Each year council then elects two pupils to represent their year on the school council.

• This means that each school year has two representatives on the school council.

• Pupils elected on to the school council should receive training on their roles and responsibilities .

• The elected pupils have meetings supported by a teacher to discuss and make plans for improving the school.

• The pupils on the school and year councils bring news back to their tutor groups about what has been decided and what is happening.

• The Headteacher must make sure that the school council meets six times a year.

• The school council has the opportunity to elect two young people from years 11 - 13 to report to the schools Governing Body.

What can the school council do?

• It can raise issues and concerns of pupils, campaign for change
  and raise funds.

  • Some of the issues school councils could consider include:

  • Bullying

  • The school environment

  • Sports equipment and facilities

  • Canteen menu

  • Litter

  • School uniform

  • School rules

  • How to raise money for the school or charities

  • Condition of toilets and other school facilities.

• The school council presents ideas to managers and governors so that pupils have their voice heard when decisions are made.

Interested in getting involved with your school council?

• Getting involved in your school council can benefit you personally as well as other pupils in the school.

• You will get valuable experience in working with others, debating issues, making decisions and presenting ideas which will help you build up your key skills.

• These skills and experience will look good on course/ UCAS applications, your CV and job applications in the future.