School Council
Listening to Pupils
Ferring School benefits from having a School Council where representatives from the classes help to make decisions about important issues which concern them and their fellow pupils.
The School Council aims to:
- involve pupils in making decision about the running of the school;
- help make school a safe, happy and fair place to learn;
- help teach pupils about democracy and good citizenship;
- work in partnership with all the adults to improve the school;
- help make decisions about how money could be spent;
- help arrange fund raising events;
- make sure that every child can have their say;
- improve communication between pupils and adults at the school.
There are two members from each class from Years 1 to 6 who are appointed at the start of each academic year.
The School Council meets at least once per half term. In between each meeting, the School Councillors arrange with their class teacher to hold a ‘Class Council’ session. This provides an opportunity for School Council representatives to feedback to the class what was said at the previous meeting and to take their views to the next meeting.
The School Council represent their views to the Headteacher so that the school’s senior leadership team, governors and staff can make decisions informed by the views of the children; one example is making comments and suggestions as to which charities the school should choose to support each year.
When asked what qualities the children thought they needed to be a good school councillor they said you need to be good at speaking out loud and be confident. You should be happy to come to every meeting, even if it’s at playtime. You need to be able to listen as much as talk, and to be responsible and patient.
Ms Welsh, Headteacher, believes "it is essential that the children have a voice through their School Council role and that their thoughts and opinions are valued. It is important that they understand it is their school and they can play a part in making decisions which benefit everyone. I also feel that being part of a School Council helps children to develop a number of useful skills, particularly speaking with confidence in a group, listening, turn-taking, decision making and working collaboratively. Our current School Council are proving very effective already.”
Previous School Councils have carried out some very valuable projects. Click HERE to read about some of them.
