Ambleside CE Primary School
School Council 1999
The start of 1999 brings
an exciting new initiative to Ambleside Primary School. For some time
we have talked about starting a School Council, and the time has now
come to put our money where our mouths are! We intend our School
Council to become a forum for the children in the school to be able
to discuss and debate not only those things that they like about the
school, but also a place where they can make suggestions about things
they'd like to alter, or where they can discuss ideas they have to
improve their school.
The membership of the School Council will comprise
the children themselves, each one a representative of one of the
classes in school. So, the matters that are discussed and the issues
raised will be those of immediate interest to the different classes
throughout school.
The children will encounter agendas and minutes,
will be involved in discussion, debate, decision making and reporting
back to their class, may need to consider planning and organising
their projects and how the necessary finances might be raised.
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Principles and Organisation of Our School Council
Principles
Our School Council will comprise representatives of each class in
school, two parents and a School Governor, discussing on a regular
basis, matters that interest or concern the class. There will be the
opportunity to discuss both individual class matters brought by the
representatives, to the Council, and also times when items on the
agenda are determined by the school. The Council will both discuss
and make decisions.
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Organisation
- There will be one Whole School Council comprising
representatives of each class in school, two parents and one
member of the Governing Body;
- It will meet on a regular, half-termly basis;
- Well before each meeting, each class will discuss matters that
interest or concern the class as a whole or items that have been
determined by the school. Matters of interest / concern will then
be submitted to the Chair of the Council for inclusion on the
agenda for discussion by the Council;
- There will be an agenda for each meeting. Each child will have
a copy of the agenda; the older children will help the younger
children;
- The School Council meetings will be chaired initially by the
Headteacher;
- Council meetings will take place in lesson times, emphasising
the importance that is attached to this initiative;
- Notes will be kept of each meeting, handwritten by the Chair.
These will then be wordprocessed into minutes by the older
children. These will be checked by the Chair;
- Once a Council meeting has taken place and the minutes
produced, matters will be discussed at a full staff meeting.
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Membership of the Council
- There will be 2 representatives from each class in school;
- The representatives from the Key Stage 1 classes: All
interested in becoming a representative will put forward their
names. Having spoken to each, the class teacher will choose one
boy and one girl to become the representatives;
- The representatives from the Kay Stage 2 classes: All
interested in becoming a representative will put forward their
names. They will be given some time at home to prepare an election
speech to the class. Having heard all speeches, the class will
choose its representative;
- One boy and one girl will be chosen from each class;
- The representatives will remain on the Council for a year. As
the Council is set up and procedures are established and then
reviewed, the representatives will hold office for an intial
period of two terms;
- Two parents and one school governor will be invited to join
the Council. They must be available to attend the Council
meetings, which will occur during the school day. The parents will
be informed of the Council by letter and during a meeting of the
Parent Staff Association.
- The purpose of having other adults on the Council is
threefold. It emphasises to the children the importance of the
Council; it enables those adults to gain an insight into what is
happening in school in their role of 'observer'; they can help to
move the discussions / decision-making on when necessary, by
sensitive questioning. The adults will not vote on issues.
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Implementation
The process of implementation will be carefully phased to enable
the establishment of a successful Council. Introducing the idea to
the children, informing parents, establishing two parent members,
giving the children enough time to prepare election speeches and
sufficient time to enable meaningful voting to take place, is
important.
It is anticipated that the setting up processes will take a month.
The first meeting will take place soon after this.
Date agreed by Whoe School: 5.1.99
First meeting: Week commencing: 8.2.99
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