Intent:
Fosse Way School’s Student Council aims to empower pupils to participate in their school community as active citizens, to promote our school values: kindness, resilience and pride, as well as a sense of responsibility and ownership of the school community, giving all pupils a ‘voice’ through their class representatives. The school council provides a meaningful way in which pupils can voice their opinions verbally or through the use of PECS and have their views taken into account for decisions which impact upon them. Our School Council is a representative group of students who have been elected by their peers to represent their views and raise issues with the Leadership Team and Governors.
Implementation:
The School Council is a body of students elected by their peers. These students represent the views of all the pupils and consider ways to improve their school. The school council is made up of representatives from each class from Y1 to POST-16 who discuss matters about their learning and school life and raise any concerns with the Leadership Team and Governors of the school. The School Council meets weekly to discuss suggested improvements that could be made to the school environment and curriculum. The meetings enable the young people to feel empowered by their education, feel that school responds to their needs and views, allows the opportunity to let adults know pupils’ feelings and opinions about things that affect them in and around school. They have a say about decisions, develop life skills through debate and participation, and play an active role in making their school a better place. We also have a teacher representative who supports the meetings. The school council helps to provide a voice for all pupils and it aims to meet on a weekly basis. Fosse Way School staff believe that our young people have unique perspectives on learning, teaching and schooling in general and we encourage students to think about how to enact their understanding of human rights and responsibilities in practical ways. It gives them direct experience of debating and negotiating issues and enables them to see the ‘bigger picture’ of how the whole school is run.
Impact:
Over the past few years, Fosse Way School Council have helped to improve the school environment, suggested fun activities during school time, raised money for charities and worthwhile causes and also been involved in the interview process for new staff. Fosse Way School Council has hosted cake sales, jumble sales, supported school discos, outdoor events, competitions and races. Fosse Way School Council has also raised awareness and a substantial amount of money for worthy causes and charities including: Macmillan Cancer Support, Children In Need, Sports Relief, Comic Relief, Water Aid, Mind, Diabetes UK and more. Promoting the value of kindness, the School Council make it their termly aim to learn about ways in which to support those around them in our school community as well as those nationally and globally. Experience shows that a school council that is supported and nurtured helps to improve many aspects of school life.
Careers:
Our School Council works together as a team to ensure we can be the best school possible by discussing ideas and making decisions. The role of the School Councillors is to: listen to the views of their class and represent these ideas and views during school council meetings, feedback key issues from these meetings to their class and share WOW moments, work on a variety of charitable and fundraising projects and discuss key issues. They aim to make other pupils feel even more comfortable, happy and safe at school. Fosse Way School Council aim to listen to others and discuss comments and suggestions that would make our school an even more wonderful place, working hard each term to promote resilience and kindness to make our world a better place. These are all skills that are important and transferable to any working environment.