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Newsletter 11: Can your school council do this?

This newsletter’s chock full of case studies, with a downloadable simple minutes template.

 

Enough about us …

… this is about you

Many schools are doing great, exciting things with their school councils and student voice; last year we were commissioned to write up some good practice case studies and we’ve (finally) been allowed to publish them. Have a look, steal some ideas and tell us what you’re doing that’s even better!

Case study: Student governors

Beauchamp College doesn’t really have a school council, they have elected student governors and a student ambassador instead. They perform many of the same roles, but as they sit on the governing body, are completely tied in to decision-making in their school.
http://involver.org.uk/?p=3297

Resource: Quick minutes template

Ensure that you get down the most important facts from your school council (or any other meeting): what decisions were made, and WHO is doing WHAT by WHEN.
http://involver.org.uk/?p=3272

Case study: Whole school democracy

Poster at Wroxham: Pupils will not learn to think for themselves if their teachers are expected to do as they are told
Wroxham Primary School was turned around by creating a culture where everyone is listened to and is asking the question ‘how could we improve?’ They have cross-age circle times led by Y6, pupil-led parent evenings and an emphasis on self-evaluation.
http://involver.org.uk/?p=3198

News: By and for young people

This is a podcast produced as part of the Our Say Our Way project, which is linking up young people on housing estates around the country. We’re currently writing a toolkit to spread what they are doing further:
http://www.oursay-ourway.co.uk/blog/2011/12/2012-legacy/

 
Free networking and advice for school council co-ordinators

Free event

Student voice networking in London: We’re putting on some free evenings to get school council co-ordinators together to share ideas, tips and tales of woe. We’ll provide the venue, refreshments and advice if you tell us where you’d like to meet up (if there’s strong interest in an area outside of London, we’ll happily come to you too, so let us know):
http://bit.ly/wxwhDX

Even more case studies!

We’re adding a case study a day for the next two weeks, so keep checking the link below. There are already ones up about Design Teams at New Line Learning Academy and the student-led consultations at Westfield Community School:
http://involver.org.uk/category/case-studies/