School Council 2023-24

The following children have been elected by their class to represent them on the school council for 2023-24.

How our members are elected

Members of our school council are elected each year by their peers.  They serve for one academic year.  They are elected because they want to make our school even better and our learning even more powerful for everyone.  Their opinions and input are valued. There are regular opportunities in class for children to share improvement suggestions with their class councillors.  Our School Council aims to meet at least half-termly, sometimes more frequently if we are working on a project, to discuss suggestions together.

School Council Projects

In 2022-23, the School Council chose to look at ways in which they can support the environment through recycling to produce Christmas decorations, as well as supporting projects run by 'Water for Africa' to help provide clean, safe water for those who currently do not have it.

The School Council organised a recycling/ upcycling event where children brought in old games and books that other children might want to use, so that we were both reducing the amount of waste in the old games as well as saving the need to buy new ones which in turn both saved money and reduces the amount of new material having to be produced.

During the Summer term, the School Council organised a collection of shoes to send to those across the world who do not have access to footwear via the charity "Sal's Shoes". 

Games and Books Upcycling

Thank you to everyone who brought in good quality used books and games so that others could then take these home so that not only did we save money on not having to buy new items but we also saved lots of materials and resources that are made in making these items.

Bottle Top Recycling

Thank you to everyone who sent in bottle tops with which the children made their Christmas decorations thus reducing waste both in the plastic tops and also in the need to buy new decorations. There were so many sent in that we were also able to send lots to charities to also use.

Water for Africa

Thank you to everyone who supported the School Council initiative to raise money for projects run by 'Water for Africa' by wearing something blue or watery. We managed to raise £130 which was then increased when the children decided that the collection from our Harvest Service should also support the same cause.

Clothes Recycling

The School Council has been thinking about ways in which we can help the planet by recycling clothes. This will mean that we are not wasting unnecessary resources and damaging the environment by buying new items. We decided to hold a recycled clothes event. Nearly 600 items were donated: that's 600 previously loved clothes which have found new homes and therefore reduced the number of new clothes that need to be bought.

School Council Actions in previous years

In previous years, following decisions by the School Council, we purchased a fish tank, introduced a new reading reward scheme, created posters on what makes a good learner and bought additional play equipment for the toy shed. Last year, the School Council thought about the effectiveness of our feedback policy, how we challenge ourselves in Maths, increasing choice when ordering a school dinner and making sure we all get to school safely. They also led a whole school initiative about Global Neighbours.

During 2018-19, the School Council continued the work on promoting the importance of Global Neighbours and appointed Global Neighbour representatives. They decided to support the Salvation Army by collecting old school uniform. Following the collection for Christian Aid at the Harvest Service, the School Council voted to support the World Wildlife Fund using money from the collection in the KS2 Christmas Carol Service. The School Council are also reviewed tablet use/ screen time and impact on children throughout the school.

In July 2019, some of the School Council visited Tesco in New Milton where their Community Champion took them around both the store and the warehouse so that they could learn about how Tesco are trying to help with recycling and what we, as shoppers, can do to help.

Sal's Shoes

There are an estimated 300 million barefoot children worldwide. 58 million children worldwide are not in school. 29 million of these are because they do not have the means. In many countries you cannot go to school if you do not have shoes. Therefore, the School Council decided to collect shoes and send them to those children that need them. We managed to collect 100 pairs of shoes to help those children who need them most.

Visit to Tesco to Investigate Recycling

As part of the school's ongoing work as Global Neighbours, some of the School Council visited the Tesco store at New Milton to talk with their Community Champion, Amanda, about the work that they are doing as a company to help reduce the negative impact of packaging as well as the decisions that we can make as shoppers.

First, Amanda talked about how shoppers have a choice between packaged fruit or loose fruit. Then the School Council learnt about the difficulties in recycling 'shiny' plastic but how some bread packaging can now be recycled with plastic bags. Amanda then shared all the things that Tesco are doing to reduce waste before having a look around the warehouse and then a final look around the store at the packaging of soft drinks and bathroom products.

Recycle with Michael Campaign

The School Council continue to think about ways to encourage children throughout the school to be active Global Neighbours. After looking at different schemes for collecting unwanted clothes, the Council decided that the Salvation Army's 'Recycle with Michael' was an ideal charity to support. Members of the School Council led a whole school collective worship to kick-start the project. See below for their Power Point. We managed to collect 390kg of clothing - in addition to helping support the Salvation Army with their causes, it also raised £45.83 for the school. Thank you everyone who contributed.

Review of use of tablets/ screen time

The School Council completed a survey across the whole school about the children's amount of screen time at home as well as what websites and apps are being used. As a result of this, they are now preparing a presentation to be shown in school and a letter to parents summarising their findings.

Damage to our planet assembly

In Spring 2019, the Year 4 School Council representatives, alongside children from their class, prepared and  presented an assembly to the rest of the school about the damage to our planet that is caused by producing all the meat needed for people to eat, and the possible alternatives.