Following our conversion to Academy status in 2013 our School Council system was re-launched to our students with a renewed focus on making it an effective method for students to have a say in their school.
Our School Council is an inclusive, structured forum for discussion and decision making that allows all students a voice in improving our school. It is a democratic council, with an election process during the start of the Autumn term each academic year.
Each tutor group elects two representatives, who obtain views from their tutor group and feedback in Year Group Council Meetings. Three elected representatives from each year group then take the views of their year group to the Whole School Council. The five Year Council’s and the Whole School Council all meet once every half term.
Members of the School Council have a responsibility to put forward the views of their tutor and year groups. Rather than just presenting their own opinions, students are encouraged to develop as effective leaders and ensure the voice of all students is represented. The Council members also ensure that feedback from the meeting is passed back to their year and tutor groups.
With the development of the school as a Co-operative Academy, the elected Chair and Vice-Chair of the Whole School Council are invited to attend meetings of the school’s Full Governing Body. This is to ensure that students are represented at the highest level within the school.
In addition two members of the Whole School Council are elected as Senior Leadership Team (SLT) Representatives and attend the SLT meetings after each School Council meeting to present feedback from the council to senior staff.
The School Council process gives students from all year groups' access to a number of different opportunities across the year including:
- Suggesting new ideas for rewards systems
- Delivering school campaigns
- Giving feedback on attendance and providing ideas for rewarding and encouraging good attendance
- Carrying out polls across the school to gather feedback on various school issues
- Taking part in fundraising events
- Organising reward afternoons
- Supporting the Community Christmas Party
- Supporting Year 5 & 6 Transition Evening
- Participating in the interview panels for senior staff appointments including Deputy Headteacher and Assistant Headteachers
- Influencing and shaping the development of the school as a Co-operative
- Delivering Digital Safety Week assemblies
- Taking part in student voice days called 'Have Your Say Days'
- Taking part in school building work consultations
- Influencing the canteen menu
- Supporting our Co-operative Trust AGM
- Taking part in community projects
Student voice successes:
• One love concert marking the anniversary of the Manchester Arena attack
• Leading the ‘SoundOut’ conference which links with our feeder primary school councils
• Presenting at Manchester Schools’ Voice Box
• Discovering Democracy award
• A journey to remember – Bare foot walk to raise awareness of the journey refugees make
• Choose Love concert
