School Council
Why do we have a School Council?
It used to be thought that ALL decisions about children should be made by grown ups because they were older and had experience, training and qualifications…..
- But grown ups didn’t always make very good decisions (and they hardly ever asked the children what they wanted).
- So all the countries of the world got together and agreed that children must be given rights (and they also agreed that sometimes children’s ideas are better than grown up ideas!).
- The governments of the world decided that adults must listen to children and they created the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child state that:
Article 12: Children have the right to say what they think should happen, when adults are making decisions that affect them, and to have their opinions taken into account.
Article 13: Children have the right to get and to share information as long as the information is not damaging to them or to others.
Article 15: Children have the right to meet together and to join groups and organisations, as long as this does not stop other people from enjoying their rights.
The purpose of Weeting School Council is:
- to promote empowerment
- to ensure that children's views are important and acted upon
- to offer opinions about things that affect them
- to improve the school and local community
- to develop a community of courageous advocates who champion a cause which is special and meaningful to them
Weeting School Council is led by a group of children who are elected to represent the views of all children and helps to make improvements to the school. They are supported in their work by Mr Davis and Mr Dissington. Each class from Reception to Year 6, elects two children to represent the class and their term of office is for one year.
School Council meets 4 times a term. An agenda is sent out in advance with important discussion points to be explored and prepared in class prior to the meeting.
School Council Round Up - Spring Term
School councillors met with Ellie, from EACH, to share different types of fundraising that she has been involved in and how much money can be raised from different events. School Council then discussed some possible events that we could hold over the next 6 months as part of their year long fundraising campaign for EACH. For their next event they have selected a sponsored run, or walk, around a course they have designed around the school field!
School Council have decided that in order for the outdoor resources to be well cared for they would like to create positions of play leaders. They have identified the purpose of these roles, have drawn up application forms and identified a set of interview questions and a task. Play leaders will help:
- To improve behaviour on the playground
- To provide safe areas for children to play different games and equipment
- To develop friendships between pupils
- To encourage problem solving
- To teach pupils appropriate skills and games
- To be a good role model to their peers
School Council Round Up - Autumn Term
School Council have worked with our Friends of Weeting committee to successfully submit an Outdoor Learning Grant that will provide them with equipment that can be used to make playtimes and lunchtimes more exciting. In consultation with their classes, the School Councillors have drawn up a list of equipment that promotes both physical and creative learning opportunities outside. They have priced out the cost of the equipment and had in-depth discussions about how to spend and prioritise the grant.
School Council were concerned about the amount of rubbish that they had noticed on their playground and field areas. They have decided that each class should take responsibility for tidying up the grounds on a Friday lunchtime so that school is tidy for the start of each new week. One of the Councillors spoke to a member of the Weeting Steam Rally Committee who very kindly donated a set of litter pickers for the children to use.
School Councillors researched two local children's charities, EACH (East Anglian Children's Hospices) and Nelson's Journey (a children's bereavement group). They decided to nominate EACH as this year's charity as they believe all children should have the opportunity to have fun and explore new experiences no matter how poorly they might be. School Councillors contacted the EACH fundraising team and asked for publicity materials. This term they have decided to hold a bucket collection at the end of each of the Christmas Play productions and donate Christmas Jumper Day funds to the charity.
School Council Plans for the Year
This year School Council have identified 3 key areas:
1. To improve our School grounds.
2. To improve our own well being.
3. To help children, with life limiting conditions, and their families, to create happy memories.
