1. ROLE OF THE SCHOOL COUNCIL
The School Council at Bramley Park Academy is a body of pupils who have been voted for by their peers to be representatives of the student voice. These pupils will act as a voice for their fellow classmates, and will be required to aid in resolving issues regarding the school, immediate community and society as a whole.
The School Council will actively consult on, and contribute to the development of school policies in a wide range of areas such as bullying, uniform requirements, behaviour code and extra-curricular activities. The Council could be required to consult with students, staff and parents on those issues and to represent the Council’s views on those issues to school management
2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The aims and objectives of Bramley Park Academy are:
To provide opportunity for pupils to become partners in their own education, and to make a positive contribution to the school environment and ethos.
To develop and promote children’s self-confidence, social skills and their responsible behaviour towards each other and towards their teachers and adult members of staff.
To develop the pupil’s knowledge, skills and understanding of how to contribute to their local community and society as a whole, and what it means to be an active citizen.
To develop pupils recognition of themselves as worthwhile individuals with a right to have an opinion and for those to be heard.
To allow children to have a ‘voice’ and to share their opinions and ideas with others.
To allow children to become more responsible and actively involved in the decision making process of the school, and to be involved in decisions that directly affect them.
To develop important life skills that promotes positive mental health and social welfare, emotional literacy critical and moral reasoning, self-esteem, self-awareness, communication skills, relationship skills and assertiveness.
3. ORGANISATION AND MANAGEMENT OF OUR SCHOOL COUNCIL CLASS MEETINGS
School council meetings are held every half term, or when the School Council Coordinator and/or School Council decide it is necessary. Class council meetings are held in every class the week before the School Council meeting. They should be held in a designated PSHE slot.
The agenda for the Class Council will be drawn up by the School Council Coordinator, with the input of class representatives.
There will be agenda items related to items which may have been discussed during School Council Meetings, staff meetings, governors meeting, School Leadership meetings or which have been put forward by subject coordinators or midday supervisors etc.
Opportunities for the children to raise items will also be provided. The School Council Coordinator will take notes about issues/ideas discussed and bring them to the next School Council meeting to disseminate to representatives. After each School Council meeting, the class School Councillors will report back to their class on the issues discussed and the action taken. Any feedback will be noted by School Councillors in the class book, and fed back in the next meeting.
4. SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETINGS
School Council meetings are held every half term, depending on the length of the half term. The meetings are held by the School Council Link Teacher (School Council Coordinator) together with the School Council representatives.
The meetings usually take place in school.
5. RUNNING THE SCHOOL COUNCIL
The agenda for each School Council Meeting will be drawn up by the School Council Coordinator.
At each Council meeting, there will be one main issue on the agenda, as well as opportunities for all School Councillors to discuss other ideas raised by the pupils in their classes.
A copy of the agenda will be provided for every School Councillor for them to follow during the meeting.
The School Council Coordinator will make notes of the School Councillors discussions, and will clearly outline the outcomes of the meeting prior to its end.