School Council

Every September all children take part in activities which focus on

• What is School Council
• What are the aims of a School Council
• What are the roles and responsibilities of a School Council Representative
• Engaging in activities to develop and promote good communication skills, team building, determination, social confidence and leadership skills.
• Nomination and election of School Council Representatives

School Council Representatives meet with Learning Mentor, Mrs Perry on a regular basis to share ideas and discuss areas of development.

The representatives then feed back to their peers during Class Council meetings

Previous School Council initiatives include:

• Involved in making changes to the school uniform
• Worked with school cook to further improve choices of meals for lunch time menu.
• Being part of the interview process when appointing new headteacher.
• A joint project with the infant school council to promote positive play
• Working alongside school council reps from 7 local schools on an annual community cohesion project
• Infant and Junior Schools Councils invited Mr Stephen Twigg MP for West Derby Ward and Shadow Secretary of State for Education to a question and answer session (‘Hot Seat’).
• 2 school council representatives elected as School Parliament Members.
• SPM’s from 6 schools meet once a term to share views and ideas raised at School Council Meetings and discuss school and community based topics.

SCHOOL PARLIAMENT

Decision making from grass routes up to strategic level

St Margaret Mary’s Junior School, St Margaret Mary’s Infant School, HASCL, Blacklow Brow, Sylvester and Malvern Primary

Elective School Council Representatives from each of the schools came together to form School Parliament.

SPM’s (School Parliament Members) meet once a term to share views and ideas raised at School Council Meetings and discuss school and community based topics.

This pilot scheme was launched in March 2012 at HASCL. We were joined by Mr Damian Allen former director of Knowsley Children and Family Services. We were grateful for his support and encouragement and look forward to having a voice in the decisions being made that effect children, young people and families within our schools and communities.

A Termly School Parliament newsletter is produced and distributed across the 6 schools.