ARCHIVE - school life

Outcomes of DORSET pupil council discussion March 2008

The Effective School Council Discussion Notes.

Students felt that it was important to raise the profile of the school council, not only within their school environment but locally too.
Ways in which this was happening in their schools were:
*Involving the local press in successes
* Making videos to show to other pupils, explaining their work and progress
* Assemblies have raised profiles and awareness of school councils
* Schools should have display boards with pictures and information about the students within the school council to help other children to feel more comfortable knowing the pupils

Pupils were concerned that they have good ideas, which begin to be developed but at the first hurdle they fall apart.
Pupils discussed solutions:
* Have clear goals and identify responsibilities to specific people
* Try not to have too many points being discussed at any one time - instead if you have lots of projects, pupils felt sub-committees each working on smaller projects would be able to managed the developments
* Meet with senior management at the start of their meetings - one school is already doing this and is finding that it is helping their ideas and concerns be dealt with more efficiently
*Pupils discussed having a plan for the different stages of development - also thinking about how to overcome money issues with alternatives e.g. fundraising ideas, using parental expertise etc.

Pupils in year 6 and year 11 discussed their concerns about handing over school council responsibilities effectively. It was agreed that for this to be effective pupils needed to:
* Step back for some sessions to allow younger members to take responsibilities for some tasks
* In secondary schools use year council reps to meet and then school council reps to take ideas from these meetings to senior management which will enable everyone to be involved in the process and gradually develop their role as the move through the school
* Have smaller groups within the school council who take responsibility for specific areas (one school have groups in charge of teaching and learning, environmental issues etc). This will keep everyone involved at all times
When discussing whether or not pupil councils should be involved in interviewing new staff members, pupils felt:
* It was really important that pupils did have the opportunity to interview teachers as they know whether or not pupils can relate to the teachers or not
* Pupils can spot a fun teacher and understand the rapport
*Pupils would then feel like they had an impact on school decision making

Minutes February 2008

Minutes from School Council Meeting: 14th February 2008

Present at the meeting:
Reception: Jessamy and Hannah
Year 1: Jade and Oliver Fr, Year 2: Harry and Jemima, Year 3: Josh and Megan, Year 4: Kitty and Oliver, Year 5: Harry and Elvie, Year 6: Tom and Maddy.

Introduced new Reception School Council Representatives to everyone and explained what happens at the meetings.

Year Item discussed Discussion Outcome/Action
R Would like to sleep in school! Year 5 shared the differences between boarding schools and our school. Explained where we would keep all of our belongings, clean our teeth, miss family etc. Shared Stories at Bedtime - year 6 discussed what this was. R will go back to their class and tell them about stories at bedtime as a way around sleeping in school!
1 Would like to see better use of the quiet area. Could we have signs to promote positive behaviour? Could there be a sand tray put into the quiet area to play with? Year 3 also had a similar point to discuss and the whole of the school council felt it was being miss-used at the moment. We shared the idea of placing signs to promote positive behaviour around the quiet area, and discussed ways these may be generated - through a competition - school council members working with their class to make one sign per class which can then all be displayed.
We discussed the sandpit idea and the fact that it would cost money - one member was concerned that it would get ruined in bad weather - R suggested that it was a movable one which could be brought inside during bad weather. Year 5 then suggested that it had a lid. All the pupils were very keen to have this in the quiet area and suggested dressing up for world book day or having another day which could be non-school uniform to raise money.
LW to discuss with SW about the option of all classes making one sign each - LW is happy to spend a lunchtime or two helping the Ppls to turn their photographs/drawings into posters for display.
Captions could read: Talking Only, Walk in this area, please don't throw stones, leave the bamboos alone etc.
The Ppls were very keen to raise money through world book day for the sand pit - is this possible? LW to discuss with SW
2 The big playground is rough and bumpy - Class 2 would like it recovered in soft tarmac.
School council were concerned that if this happened it would have to happen in school holidays as they wouldn't want to have no access to the playground for a long time!
Also, again discussed the money issues! LW to put idea to SW and feedback to the school council.
3 Could the playground markings be re-painted please as they are wearing away - also could we have some different things painted on them?
2nd concern was that they didn't feel the buddies were available to help as they should be particularly in the friendship corner. Discussed cost of playground painting - again to just be asked for - no guarantees!
If it was possible Ppls made the following suggestions:
* More jumping spots/flowers.
* Pieces for the chessboard outside (chess or draughts) (year 6 thought this was brought up at school council a few years back?)
* French labelled colours/words in French in their respective colours to wiggle along.
* The standing jump to be re-painted and elongated.
* They really like the mini course telling you when to jump/walk etc.
* Could there be some footprints/giants footprints/animal footprints etc?
As for the buddy situation - Year 6 reminded Ppls that they had changed and they had both been keeping an eye on them and that they had seen an improvement - when asked - not all Ppls were aware of who they were or where they could be found.

A suggestion was made that there was a fresh photo taken of the current buddies which could be put up on all of the doors exiting to the playground (e.g. at the end of the cloakroom doors) also saying where they could be found if anyone needed help.
Could they also stand up in assembly?
L.W. to ask S.W. whether or not it is possible to have some/all of the playground lines and fun playground paintings re-done and feedback to the school council.

If O.K. with S.W. - L.W. to work with year 6 reps to take photo of current buddies and create a sign which can be placed on each of the exit doors.

4 Would like a new carpet in their classroom as it is getting dull and some of it is ripped - they want to fit in with the rest of the school. Asked who would need to make the decision about funding the cost/when it should be carried out.
All members agreed that because it would be a large cost that Mr Williams would have to make the decision based on the money that the school have - however they were still very keen to put it forward as they felt it would make KS2 look as lovely as KS1 and would also fit in with the new ICT flooring. L.W. to talk about idea with S.W. and feedback to the school council.
5 Can the playground leader groups be changed? Year 5 boys are not allowed up the path (because of them continually getting muddy) and when the play leaders are in the big playground they have no-where to run around. This was an interesting discussion with year 6 explaining the importance of the playground leaders to be working with the R and KS1 as they find playtimes trickier to make friends.
Year 3 and 5 suggested that as they enjoy playground leaders and don't really get the chance anymore could there be a rota where once a month or once every half term there was one lower KS2 week and one upper KS2 week to play with the play leaders?
Another suggested alternative was that to allow KS2 to use the big playground more frequently - could the play leaders sometimes work with the children in the hall (not just in bad weather)? L.W. to put forward these proposals to S.W. and feedback to the school council.
6 Boys would like a mirror in their toilets.
Could there be some proper goals in the playground? Boys would like a mirror because when they hurt themselves they have to go into the girls toilets to clean their cuts?!

Discussed getting hold of goals for them - would have to be safe for use on concrete - Ppls wanted to put idea to Mr Williams. L.W. to pass requests on to S.W.

Minutes 6th November 2007

Minutes
* Welcome to all new members.
* Who are the new school council members.
* Photo to be taken later in the week , so year 1 can join.
Resolutions
Year 6 Want all juniors to be able to take part in their own playground leader sessions, so they can play with the equipment.
Action Mrs Willis to discus this at a staff meeting.

Year 5 Would like school ties because it would be smarter
Action Year 5 school council members to prepare a case for ties. Book a meeting with Mr Williams and discuss it with him.
Year 4 Would like buddies to do their job and man the friendship corner.
Action Feedback in year 6 circle time to buddies that year 3,4 and 5 all commented on them not doing their job properly.

Year 3 Hardly any buddies are going to the quiet area so little children are getting hurt on the stones and bamboo.
Action Same as year 4

Year 2 No resolution this time

Minutes from School Council meeting held on 13th June

In our last school council meeting we have decided that...

Reception and Class.3 would like to have an outside Climbing frame. We are saving money so we can afford to buy this.
Class.4 have decided that they would like a Friendship corner and this will be talked about in assembly and the year six buddy's will take care of this.
Class.1 would also like to make the lunch area brighter. This was also agreed upon after our survey about the lunch area. We have talked to Mr.Willams about this and he has decided to paint and decorate the room with posters and bright colours.

Feedback from School Council

School Council Feedback from Circle Times about the lunchtime environment.
Do you think the lunch area is welcoming?
You said that you would like the lunch area to be more colourful with work displayed from all year groups. You would also like chairs and tables to be a more comfortable size.
Do you enjoy eating your lunch?
Yes although some people would like school dinners. Lots of children would like to sit more with their class / friends. You would also like lunchtimes to be quieter with fewer children dropping food on floor.
What do you think of the fruit scheme?
You enjoy your fruit but would like the compost bins emptied more. Some of you would like fruit for sale or a fruit bar. KS1 like getting to try new fruit but don't like all of them. Some of you would enjoy a more filling but healthy snack such as a bread roll.
Do you think that teachers tell us enough about healthy eating?
Yes
Do you think the equipment is good?
You would like proper cups and cutlery. You also don't want the cups washed with the cloths that wipe the tables. You would also like compost bins in the lunch area and bins with flip lids.
Would you like a water fountain?
Most of you would like a water filter in the lunch area although there is some concern over queues.
Would you like hot school dinners?
Some of you would although some of you realise the kitchen is too small at the moment.
Is there anything you could do to make your lunch more healthy?
You thought that lunches could be given points for healthy foods. Also that we could give parents guidelines about what we would like to see in lunchboxes.
Are you happy with the lunchtime clubs?
Some of you would like more clubs at lunchtime although others don't like missing play. Classes 3 and 4 would like an art club at lunchtime. Many of you feel that the broken playground equipment needs replacing.

School Council Minutes Wednesday 19th October 2005

At our recent meeting we discussed and decided the following:

Mrs Willis to find out how much money is left and then we will decide how it is to be spent in respect of bigger playground equipment.
Stepping stones for playground will also be discussed.
Dominic and Ella to talk to Mr Williams to find out when environmental area is to be cleared.
There is a need to know where all the wet play things are in each classroom.
Mrs Willis is to consider running a Yr 6 cooking club in the Summer and to buying new cookery equipment.

School Council Minutes Wednesday 18th May 2005

At our recent meeting we discussed and decided the following:

Football will be banned on Tuesdays once new equipment arrives.
New reading books have arrived.
Class 5 to circulate a list of playground rules to each class for feedback.
Mrs Willis is going to speak to gardening club about more flowers.
Tom and Sophie are going to speak to year six about playing rough in the playground.
A heated swimming pool will be too expensive to buy.
Staff are going to discuss a cooking club for all KS2.
Staff are going to discuss a design and tecnology club for all KS2 in September.
Mrs Willis is going to speak to Ms Valentin about eating outside on nice days.
Mr Williams is looking into changing the boys and girls cubicle doors.

School Council Minutes Wednesday 9th March 2005

At our recent meeting we discussed and decided the following:

There is no room to extend cloakroom for reception

More playground equipment for girls are being ordered

A vote is being taken by each class to decide if football should be banned on Tuesdays

More reading books are being brought after Easter

It is not possible to have hot school dinners.

There is a need to write playground rules to brief at the next school meeting.

The sign to say if we are allowed on the grass is needed.

School Council Minutes Wednesday 26th January 2005

At our recent meeting we discussed and decided the following:

The winner of the logo competition was Annabel Thornton.

Mr.Williams is going to talk to the governors about getting a new dome.

The school council members have gone back to their classes to tell them to stop kicking under the table and to stop throwing food at lunch time.

All years are going to be given catalogues to spend the £1000 the P.T.A has raised for playground equipment. School council members need to ask classes what equipment they would like.

Mr Williams will find out about whether or not class pets are allowed in schools. Class 4 to decide what sort of pet they would like.

A notice has been put up in the staff room for anybody who wants to start a cooking club.

St Andrew's CE Primary School, Yetminster