School Council
To provide a forum for pupils to contribute ideas and discuss issues we organise the School Council into Junior School Council for Years 8, 9 and 10, Middle School Council for Years 11 and 12, and Senior School Council for Years 13 and 14. Each Form Class elects a School Council Representative for the year.
Senior Prefects act as Chair and Secretary to each section of the School Council, organising the meetings, agreeing the agenda with the Heads of Year, chairing the meetings, taking and distributing minutes and keeping in touch with the representatives.
Junior School Council business ranged from the wearing of earrings, busy locker areas, wearing reflectors in the winter on the way to school, to healthy eating and the canteen. After consultation and negotiation we were able to make several changes, for example moving the location of lockers for two year nine classes, and we were able to meet with the Canteen Supervisor to increase the range of healthy options on the menu where possible, with suggestions of a ‘strawberries and cream day’ if it can be arranged!
Middle School Council’s interests were wide-ranging from central heating, cloakrooms, winter uniform, healthy eating, school trips, to extra curricular activities, but in particular the issues of recycling of paper and other items in school was raised. For any recycling scheme to operate in school it must be driven by the enthusiasm and efforts of the pupils. Some attempts were made to initiate recycling but no clear structure or process was devised. One of our goals for next year is a commitment by the pupils to create a simple process to begin the recycling of paper within school and for the pupils to take responsibility for its success.
Senior School Council focused on several issues such as improving study provision for sixth form, the use and care of the Social Areas, and the monitoring of the senior cloakroom areas. Council was asked to suggest a method to confirm which pupils went to Ballyhackamore at lunchtime, to ensure that every pupil is accounted for over the lunch break. We trialled a central ’ signing out ‘ procedure during the Spring Term which appeared to work. This will be implemented next year.
The School Council meetings are very professionally chaired and the pupil representatives contribute earnestly, ensuring that the interests of the form class are being presented fairly.
By taking a role in the School Council a student is self-evidently getting actively involved in the School Community.
The benefits a School Council brings are wide ranging. School Council
(i) teaches skills
(ii) rewards active involvement
(iii) promotes a sense of ownership of ‘our school’
(iv) reduces disaffection
(v) improves child protection
(vi) improves school
This is citizenship in action.
We look forward to the further development of the work and impact of the School Council so that there is more pupil participation and involvement in decision making in Bloomfield Collegiate School.
