Our School Council Representatives work as a team to help continue to move our school forward. Each class has two representatives. They meet once a month and their ideas and contributions are valued. St Mary and St Michael School Council main aims are to help children and young people to:

• enjoy and feel empowered by their education.
• feel that their school responds to their needs and views.
• have the opportunity to let adults know their feelings and opinions about things that affect them.
• have a say about decisions, and to play an active role in making their school a better place.
• develop life skills through participation.

Our School Council Aims:

Catholic Social Justice

We aim to make sure that the children at St Mary & St Michael Catholic Primary School understand and act upon our responsibility to make our school, our community and the world a fairer place for all.

Citizenship

To develop key values so that everyone feels equally valued and has an understanding of what it means to be a positive and responsible part of a tolerant and respectful community.

School Improvement

To discuss ways in which the school can improve by being a listening ear and a confident voice between the children, the staff and school community.

Pupil Voice

To make sure that all children have a voice and their opinions are shared in a meaningful way.  

Qualities of a School Council Member:

• Loving - someone who cares about our school and cares about our community
• Respectful - a good listener
• Honest - someone who tells the truth and does what is right
• Generous - someone who is willing to give up their time to make the school even better
• Creative - someone who has lots of ideas
• Responsible - someone who is a good role model
• Just - someone who is fair and represents everyone, not just their best friends

School Council Members Responsibilities:

• To listen carefully and represent your class/group well
• To share ideas and respect the ideas of other people
• To attend meetings and feedback to your class/group
• To be sensible role models

School Council Activities:

• Attend meetings with senior leaders, visitors or school committee
• Survey children to find out their ideas or opinions
• Show visitors around the school
• Represent the school at events
• Plan and lead events at school
• Write letters or questionnaires and feedback to the meetings

Elections:

Election Process

Every child in the school from Year 3 to Year 6 is able to stand for School Council.  Each September/October, children will have the opportunity to put themselves forward for election by explaining to their class how they would represent them and what qualities they have.

Elections will take place during September/October.  Every child in Year 3-6 will have 2 votes for 2 children in their class who they think will represent them best.

The votes will be counted by the class teacher and 2 representatives from the class (preferably 2 children who did not stand for election).

The results will be announced in assembly when the members of the new School Council will make a promise to represent their class well and do their best.

Members

Each class will elect 2 children to School Council.

In addition to this, the Senior Leadership Team may sensitively invite representatives from other groups within the school to attend relevant meetings so that children in care, children with additional learning need, children with English as an additional language are represented.

School Council Meetings

School Council meeting will be held at least once every half term.  They will be led by the Mrs Mercer or another member of the Senior Leadership Team.