What's a pupil council?
Most schools in Scotland have a pupil council. The pupil council:
- gives pupils the chance to tell teachers and staff their ideas.
- represents each class in the school.
- meets regularly to talk about important school issues and projects.
- puts forward the class views at council meetings.
- takes forward the views of the very young classes, who may find it difficult to put forward other's opinions.
The pupil council must have:
- a constitution, which is a list of rules clearly setting out roles and responsibilities.
- a chairperson, who leads the meetings by following the agenda, which is a list of items to be discussed.
- a secretary, who takes notes of what is said at the meeting – these notes are called the minutes of the meeting.
- a link teacher, to give guidance and support.
What happens during and after a pupil council meeting?
During the pupil council meeting important issues are discussed, ideas shared and action points decided. The aim is for the discussions to be orderly and fair, with everyone having an equal opportunity to talk or be listened to. It's up to the Chairperson to make sure that councillors show respect for each other.
After the meeting
After the meeting representatives report back to their class while things are still fresh in their minds - this helps every pupil to feel involved. Teachers must give enough time to let the class discuss points that have been raised. A class or school suggestion box can also be used to gather ideas, which can be discussed at the next meeting.
What are the benefits of a pupil council?
The pupil council involves you in decisions that affect you, your class and your school. It keeps you informed about the life of the school and helps you to gain the confidence to have your say. It also can help you to feel good about your place in the school community by giving you responsibilities and encourages you to be an active citizen. The advantage is that it gets exciting issues moving and can deal quickly with issues that trouble you.
Get involved in your pupil council. You can make a difference!
Research on pupil councils
An organisation called Children in Scotland undertook research into pupil councils in 2010. The research looked at how pupil councils work and the good things about them. The results of the research were made into a comic book called Councils of the Galaxy and sent out to schools.
If you didn't get a copy of the comic book and you would like one, get in touch with Children in Scotland on policy@childreninscotland.org.uk.
If you already have a copy of Councils of the Galaxy, Children in Scotland would be keen to hear what you think of it. Give your views on it by going to www.havingasayatschool.org.uk.
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