Student Council – Getting Started

General Election• In Britain there has just been a General Election

and in school we had our own version, looking at the different parties and deciding who we wanted to speak for us in Parliament.

• Over the next few days we will elect our form representatives who will speak for us in the Student Council.

• So how does it work?

What is a School Council?• A school council is group of students who are

elected to represent the views of all pupils and to improve their school.

• "School council" means all kinds of school-based groups run by students, including student forums and youth parliaments.

What does a school council do?• A school council does a number of things:• The school council meets - usually with a teacher

present - to discuss and sort out problems. These may include school lunches, behaviour or ideas for fundraising events.

• Members of the school council will be responsible for carrying out the ideas that have been agreed, such as planning discos, writing newspaper articles, or meeting with catering staff.

What makes a good one?• A good school council is one that represents the views of all

students and gets things done.• Many schools have councils, but they are not all successful.

These are some things that make a council effective:• Regular meetings• A council that is not too big• Class/Form councils that meet regularly• Good communication between representatives and their

class• Training for school council members• Smaller groups (subcommittees) working on specific events

or issues

Do they get anything done?• Many school councils just talk. • Good school councils do get things done and examples

include councils who:• Successfully campaigned to the local council and got their

toilets sorted out• Re-designed the school cafeteria and lunch menu• Reduced bullying by introducing a telephone helpline for

victims• Designed a new homework diary and sold over a thousand

copies• Changed the school uniform from blazer and tie to

comfortable sweatshirts

Do you get off lessons?• If school council meets during curriculum time

then you would miss some lessons. This is usually arranged so that you don't miss the same lesson each time, and teachers are asked to help you catch up.

• Some school councils meet at lunchtime or after school.

What makes a good School Councillor?• Able to speak out.• Someone who will take it seriously.• Someone who can put across ideas.• Someone caring.• Someone others can trust and be a role model.• Someone very reliable.• Able to keep to the subject.• Someone who’s enthusiastic.

What do we do now?• Today. Discuss who might want to be your

Councillor.• Everyone writes down a name to nominate a

School Councillor. Hand these papers in to your Tutor.

• Monday in Registration, Candidates can tell Forms what they would hope to achieve if they become Councillor.

• Tuesday in Registration, Hold a Ballot and vote for your Councillor!