Student Council

Intent for School Council 

• Upholding British values 

• A vehicle for the Pupil Voice 

• Have a realistic influence school development 

Terms of Reference 

• Council will comprise of 5 students 

• • 2 from KS3 

• • 2 from KS4 

• • 1 from MPP 

• Council will meet fortnightly 

• There will be an agreed agenda 

• Minutes will be kept and disseminated to forms 

• Minutes will be shared with school governors 

• Minutes will be shared online 

Election Process 

• Elections for student council will be held in summer term once Y11 have left. 

• This is to allow students joining the school to have the opportunity to be a part of it and to ensure the council is Quorate in September. 

• Each form will hold its own hustings to put forward up to 2 candidate for election to the council 

• A whole school vote to take place with all nominated candidates 

• A first past the post system to be used. 

• The nominees with most votes to represent the year group. 

• Term of office is one year. 

In office 

• Successful candidates to attend meetings regularly 

• If two meetings missed candidates can be removed form the council and replaced with another student. 

• Members to be responsible for updating minutes on form noticeboards 

• Members to be given responsibilities for the council 

• Minute taker 

• Distribution of minutes 

• Meeting governors and other school visitors 

• Representing the views of the students and not that of themselves or a minority group of students. 

• To contribute to discussions. 

• Expectations of the council to be realistic and to not raise unrealistic expectations. 

• Council members to see the bigger picture and develop an appreciation of the other factors which influence decision making and be able to articulate that within the council meetings. 

• To consider what they can do to resolve concerns rather than pass them upwards, it should not be forum for dealing with complaints. 

• The council should be debating student concerns and making realistic, meaningful and achievable outcomes. 

• Adopt a SMARTS approach to Council meetings;

• • Specific 

• • Measurable 

• • Achievable 

• • Realistic 

• • Timely 

• • Shared 

 

Form Nominations 

• Forms will nominate up to 2 representatives to be included on the main election ballot paper. 

• If more than 2 students wish to be put forwards then the form would have a mini election using a PR system ie if there are 3 nominees it would be 1 point for preferred candidate and increasing for each preference.   

• The two lowest point scores would be put forward to the main election ballot paper. 

Election 

• Candidates for election can write their manifesto which will be shared along with all other candidates manifestos for students to read and inform their decision. 

• A whole school election using first past the post ie one vote to be run. 

• This is to be a secret ballott and students can only vote for their own representatives ie Y10 vote for Y10. 

• The election to be held in July and a formal handover to be complete by end of term to swear in the new representatives. 

• All dates to be advertised on form noticeboards and put in school calendar.