Our School Council

Why have a School Council?


Children have Rights.

Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) says that:

'every child has the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously.” 

A school council can provide a meaningful way in which pupils can voice their opinions and have their views taken into account in decisions which impact upon them.

This is a wonderful opportunity for pupils to voice their ideas and opinions and to see democracy in action as a component of our British Values.

 There is evidence to show that a school council that is supported and nurtured helps to improve many aspects of school life. It is an important and useful way for schools to provide leadership and development opportunities for their pupils.  


A school council:


  • gets children involved - education should be done with them not to them,

  • gives all pupils a chance to talk about things they are unhappy about (and happy!)

  • gets good ideas from pupils,

  • helps to make the pupils feel that they are part of the school team - The Broadmayne Bus!


At Broadmayne First School, we respect and value the fundamental British Values of Democracy and ensure we give opportunities for the views and opinions of our pupils to be expressed. 

How does it work?


Every child in the school is part of the school council. Each of their views is welcomed and respected.


In every classroom, there is a 'Suggestion Box' for pupils to raise issues to be discussed in our regular School Council meetings.  This enables all pupils in the school to have a real say in issues that affect them and to know that their opinions count.


The children elect school council representatives or ‘voices’ from each year group so that their ideas can be heard. All pupils are invited to stand as School Council representatives and are voted for fairly and democratically by their peers. We recognise that this role is very important because the Voices represent the thoughts, feelings and ideas of every child in our school. 


The School Council representatives/Voices meet regularly to discuss issues and ideas raised by the children and staff to help keep moving our school forward so that we can all ‘fly high’.  


Promoting the School Council


The School Council will have a noticeboard in a prominent place in the school. 


There will be a school council suggestion box in each classroom for children to make comments for their representatives.


All members of the school will be informed of the decisions the council has taken – either through assemblies, class notifications or the minutes which will be publicly available on the notice board and website.


The council will have the responsibility to think of ways to help the school and local community become a safer, healthier and/or more peaceful place to thrive in.

The Class Representatives:


  • listen carefully to others,

  • attend meetings,

  • make suggestions,

  • bring ideas to share,

  • take on responsibilities and give their own time.

  • will give feedback to their class after each meeting and will have a small notebook/folder for notes.  


Making changes:


A School Council must be realistic about what it can do. Some things can be changed, and some things can't. We understand that we can't change all the things pupils want at once - we have to prioritise (i.e. most important things that affect most pupils). This involves a lot of negotiation.

The Council often has to discuss, negotiate and make compromises - that's what it means to work as a team.



Glossary for School Council:


  • Agenda - a list of things to talk about

  • Representative/Voice - someone who has been voted for to work for their class mates on the school council

  • Minutes - the notes taken during a meeting so people can see what goes on

  • Motion - an idea for the council to discuss


Meeting Minutes:


During each of our meetings, we take minutes so that we can keep track of what we have discussed and what actions we need to take. 

We will share these notes with everyone in our school community by publishing them on the school website and displaying them on our notice board.