Pupil Council

MILLER ACADEMY PUPIL COUNCIL

The School has a Pupil Council. Pupils in P4 to P7 are eligible for election to this council.

When information on nominations and elections to the Council are sent to parents you should discuss with their child/ren if he/she/they wishes to go forward for election. It will be necessary to emphasise the responsibilities associated with being a member of the Pupil Council. To help in this some notes follow regarding the Pupil Council.

What is a Pupil Council?

A Pupil Council:

is one way of giving pupils a say in the way the school is run

gives pupils an opportunity to talk about our feelings to each other and to our teachers

gives pupils a chance to make changes for the better in our school

gives pupils a forum for discussion

Why have a Pupil Council?

Children have rights:

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states in article 12 – “children have the right to express the views they have and those views should be listened to in anything that affects them.”

¨ gets pupils involved – education should be done with pupils not to pupils

¨ gives all pupils a chance to talk about things they are unhappy about (and happy!)

¨ gets good ideas from pupils

¨ helps to make pupils feel they are part of the school team

¨ helps keep pupils happy

Making Changes

A pupil council must be realistic about what it can do. Some things we can change, some we can’t. Also we can’t change all the things pupils want at once – we have to prioritise (ie most important things that affect most pupils.) This involves a lot of negotiation.

Things the Council can’t change

¨ wearing of school uniform (maybe change style in future)

¨ bikes in playground – throws up safety issues

¨ no homework??!!

Council often has to discuss, negotiate, make compromises – that’s what it means to work as a team.

What kinds of things does a pupil council discuss?

The discussion points are varied.

¨ food in dining hall

¨ after school clubs

¨ bullying

Bullying is an issue most schools want and need to deal with at one time or another.

Bullying can’t be allowed, and can be a very upsetting experience. Council can give people who feel they are being bullied a chance to put forward (quietly if they want) their concerns.

The Pupil Council Members

One Boy and one Girl representative from each class

Adviser to the Council – The Head Teacher

The Pupil Council should appoint, upon the advice of the Head Teacher, a Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer.

Nomination to Council

Pupils put themselves forward as prospective members of the Council. Pupils should think carefully before they say they would like to be a Councillor as this is a very important job with a lot of responsibility. The pupil must be reliable, a good listener, not selfish and have good ideas. The pupil must have the confidence of the other pupils in class and should be an example to others in the school.

If more than one boy or girl member from a class stands for the Council an election shall take place. Candidates for election should give a short talk/speech about why class members should vote for him/her and what he/she will do if elected. A speech of two or three minutes is quite sufficient and notes may be used.

Elected Members

Class colleagues will elect members with boys and girls voting for both boys and girls standing for election. The elected pupils, one boy and one girl, should give a very short thank you speech to everyone who voted.

Members will normally serve on the Council for one year.

Members may seek re-election in subsequent years.

PUPIL COUNCIL MEMBERS 2003/2004

P7,1 Amy Carruthers

Neil Henderson

P7,2 Robert Begg

Becky Gerrard

P6,1 Keisha Sutherland

Duncan Paterson

P6,2 Rebecca McGeachin

Tomas Simpson

P5,1 Ross Cowan

Hannah Deighan

P5,2 Calum McLennan

Emma Henderson

P4,1 Becky Cummings

Martin Gunn

P4,2 Caoimhe Simpson

Jamie Morris