Tag: school councils uk

Making a great student voice conference even better – part 2

Post author By Greg
Post date 22/02/2011

This is part two of a blog on Little Heath’s Student Voice conference. You can read the first part here. This concentrated on the older students who were organising the conference, and the adults that supported them.

This second part will look at the experience of some of the younger pupils who are more recently involved with student voice. Let’s focus on student voice in learning since it’s one of the areas that the school does amazingly well. This centres around the STARs project – Students as Researchers.

The STARs (students as researchers) project is a key part of student voice in Little Heath. It’s designed to give the students an influence in their learning and school-life. Importantly, this isn’t based on whim, but research. Even more importantly, this research is student-led.

This first group looked at the types of homework that students liked most. Lots of students were complaining about their homework so they worked on a questionnaire to send out to pupils. The results were presented to Governors and SLT.

Here’s two year 9 students telling us about their STARs project. As opposed to the first group, this project focuses on classroom teaching. It looks at specific subjects: English, History and ICT in years 7 and 8. A crucial area to look at, and some very useful findings:

This group looked at the help that is available for students within the school. Here’s a member of the group talking us through the teacher questionnaire that they organised, and what will happen to their ideas:

Members of the STARs team can get involved year after year. These two members led a successful project last year, and are doing a first plan for their anti-bullying project this year:

Lots of the learning from the STARs project goes into a booklet which is given out to the school to publicise their work. Here’s the team in charge of making it:

Ongoing reflections on Homework:

Year 7 pupils (I think) talking us through their planner/homework diary/timetable.

They’re encouraged to reflect on what they’ve learnt and their homework, if there was too much or if they really enjoyed it. Teachers would then look at this. It’s a simple but good way to encourage reflection on learning and start a conversation with teachers.

Student voice in school planning:

Year 7 pupils on the Buildings and Environment group looking at how to improve this aspect of their school. They’re starting point is how they would make their school into the ‘dream school’ and they’re drawing a big map. They’re clearly getting a lot from approaching this in a visual way.

Key quote ‘it makes it come to life’

So that’s a taster of some of the great work being worked on by the younger pupils at Little Heath. The range of student voice work is really amazing, and if you’re interested, take a look at my original post from last year’s conference for a bit of analysis into why it works so well.

Well done to everyone involved :)

Greg

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School councils: how to make them inclusive

Post author By Greg
Post date 24/01/2011

One of the main issues that many school councils face is that they don’t include enough students. This often leaves the rest of the school pretty uninterested in what the school council are doing.

In trying to overcome this, here’s Asher giving a few ideas for you on how to think about the traditional school council structure differently.

Hope it’s useful, and that you like the video blog. We’d love to hear what you think, or some ideas on what’s worked for you.

Greg

Tags Citizenship, effective, General education news, KS1 (P1-P2), KS2 (P3-P4-P5-P6), KS3 (P7-S1-S2), KS4 (S3-S4), meetings, New ideas, school councils uk, school/student/pupil council

Resources

Top Tips for Public Speaking

Post author By Asher
Post date 04/09/2009

A guide for any student (or adult) who is having to do a speech.

These tips will help you be more confident and get your point across better.

Created by School Councils UK.

Print or download (‘save’) this resource using the ‘More’ button.
Top Tips for Public Speaking – School Councils

School Councils UK Training Please feel free to reproduce this resource with acknowledgement (non-commercial use only). © School Councils UK 2008. Top Tips for Public Speaking Being able to express your opinion in a clear and calm way will help you get ahead in life. Whether in meetings, doing presentations at an assembly or getting involved in a debate, the following tips will help: 1. Prepare and practice • • • Know who your audience is with before you write your speech Get the facts so you know what you’re talking about, and practice your lines (especially when there is more than one of you) Take notes with you to remind you of what you want to say. Try to keep them to bullet points rather than whole sentences as this will stop you looking like you are reading every word Speak slowly and clearly, record yourself and play it back or practice in front of someone else • 2. Make a statement – without saying a word • Most of us make a judgement as soon as we meet someone, usually without realising it; so introductions are important. The way you present yourself will make a difference, be aware of how you are dressed and your overall appearance. Think about all the non-verbal communication you are doing, it is saying much more than the words coming out of your mouth! Don’t forget: o o o o o o o Body language Active listening Good eye contact Encouraging gestures No fidgeting Appropriate facial expressions Big smile • 3. Predict possible problems • Think of all the consequences your message could have: o o o Is there anything that people could be offended by? Have you properly thought through your argument to make sure what you’re saying is possible? Is there a history in this area? For example, have there been previous problems arising form similar projects 4. Be Professional • • Being professional will encourage others to treat you like an adult Focus on problems and issues and how to solve them rather than blaming people School Councils UK, 3rd Floor 108-110 Camden High Street, London NW1 0LU Tel 0845 456 9428 Fax 0845 456 9429 Email info@schoolcouncils.org www.schoolcouncils.org School Councils UK Training Please feel free to reproduce this resource with acknowledgement (non-commercial use only). © School Councils UK 2008. 5. Does Everyone Understand? • • Make sure that you use words that are appropriate to the people you’re talking to. Avoid swearing, street talk and acronyms e.g. phat, innit and LOL Do not be afraid of asking for things to be explained – it shows you are listening! It is likely that if you don’t understand, others don’t either. 6. Keep it Simple! • • What are you trying to say? Use simple language so the meaning of your message is clear. Research shows that people remember three new bits of information, usually the first and last things you’ve said and something that stood out in the middle. Work out what the three key messages you want to get across are and repeat them at the end. If you are nervous you may say too much! Prepare what you are going to say and stick to the script. • 7. Where are you? • There are many environmental factors that affect how you communicate. o o o o o o o Venue Temperature Noise Light Time Refreshments Other people present 8. Be Aware of the Ripples • • Think about what will happen to the communication – will it be passed on? If so how and to whom? If your communication leads to more work, make sure everyone is kept informed of what’s happening with regular updates. 9. Rights and Responsibilities • If you have been asked to represent others, take part in a meeting or talk in public, you should behave in a responsible way. If you abuse the trust that’s been given to you, you may not be asked to do it again. 10. Remember why you are doing this… • As a student you have an important contribution to make in improving your school and community, share your ideas and take time to listen to others School Councils UK, 3rd Floor 108-110 Camden High Street, London NW1 0LU Tel 0845 456 9428 Fax 0845 456 9429 Email info@schoolcouncils.org www.schoolcouncils.org

Tags 14-19, Citizenship, KS3 (P7-S1-S2), KS4 (S3-S4), Participation, pupil/student/learner voice, school councils uk, school/student/pupil council, speaking & listening

Resources

Detailed School Council Action Planning Form

Post author By Asher
Post date 04/09/2009

This detailed template will help you ask all the questions you need to when planning a project.

Write the answers on to the sheet as use it as your guide throughout your project.

If you try to run a project without sitting down to plan it first, you’re setting yourself up to fail.

Spend 20 minutes with your team going through this and you’re getting yourself off to a great start.

Created by Asher Jacobsberg at School Councils UK.

Print or download (‘save’) this resource using the ‘More’ button.
Detailed School Council Action Planning Form

School Councils UK Training Please feel free to reproduce this resource with acknowledgement (non-commercial use only). © School Councils UK 2007. MAKING A DIFFERENCE – these sheets will help you plan your project. Don’t lose them! Action Notes Example Write your answers here 1. GETTING STARTED Names of Group Members and date of meeting So you remember who you are working with! Names: Date: The title of your project Reduce, reuse, recycle Name of issue Who does this issue affect? All the people who are affected directly (or indirectly) Pupils, teachers, teaching assistants, admin staff (the whole world) What is our main goal, and why is it important? This is your goal so everyone knows what you are working for We want to reduce the amount of paper that gets thrown away in class by 50% School Councils UK, 3 Floor 108-110 Camden High Street, London NW1 0LU Tel 0845 456 9428 Fax 0845 456 9429 Email info@schoolcouncils.org www.schoolcouncils.org rd School Councils UK Training Please feel free to reproduce this resource with acknowledgement (non-commercial use only). © School Councils UK 2007. Action Notes Example Write your answers here 2. GETTING INFORMED What do you already know about this issue? What information and help do we need? What do you still need to know? This could be factual information or peoples opinions. It could also be funding, or equipment. Who do you need to talk to? What method will you use for finding information? There are lots of How will we get it? different methods. We know roughly how much paper is thrown away in our own classes, but we need to find out exactly how much is thrown away across the school. We need to find out if we can get money for recycling bins. Ask the caretaker if we can weigh the waste paper at the end of each day all of next week. Talk to the bursar and the council about money. Research on the internet how much could be saved by reducing paper use and how much extra bins, etc. would cost. School Councils UK, 3 Floor 108-110 Camden High Street, London NW1 0LU Tel 0845 456 9428 Fax 0845 456 9429 Email info@schoolcouncils.org www.schoolcouncils.org rd School Councils UK Training Please feel free to reproduce this resource with acknowledgement (non-commercial use only). © School Councils UK 2007. Action Notes Example Write your answers here 3. GETTING ORGANISED These are all the things you need to get done to achieve your goal. What needs to happen? • • • • • Any details which will explain how these tasks will get done. These are the action points. If the action points need money, you should include it in this section. • • • • • Research into current use and what we could do instead Agree a plan with the school Get new equipment, write guidance Publicise what is going on and why Get staff and students to follow guidance Weigh current waste Research alternatives Arrange meetings with caretaker and bursar Write guidance Produce posters Action Name (initials) Date How will we get it done? Who will do it? When should it be done by? When are we next meeting? Make sure you have names by all the action points. There could be more than one name for each task. Put a date by each action point so you know when it should be completed. This is important, so you know when you are meeting back together to see how it’s going. You might need to change some of the action points or timeline if new issues arise. School Councils UK, 3 Floor 108-110 Camden High Street, London NW1 0LU Tel 0845 456 9428 Fax 0845 456 9429 Email info@schoolcouncils.org www.schoolcouncils.org rd

Tags 14-19, Citizenship, Conferences & events, effective, KS3 (P7-S1-S2), KS4 (S3-S4), Participation, project management, pupil/student/learner voice, school councils uk, school/student/pupil council, template, tips & tricks

Resources

Minutes and Agendas Template (Word)

Post author By Asher
Post date 04/09/2009

Use this .doc (Word) template to help create detailed minutes and agendas for your school council (or other) meetings.

It’s colour-coded to show you which bits to delete and where to add your own text.

Created by Asher Jacobsberg at School Councils UK.

Print or download (‘save’) this resource using the ‘More’ button.
Minutes and Agendas Template (Word)

School Councils UK Resources – Agenda and Minutes Template Please feel free to reproduce this resource with acknowledgement (non-commercial use only). © School Councils UK 2009. Delete the text in light blue and put in the real information for your meeting to create an agenda. To create your minutes you should first remove the names of any one who could not come from the list below. Next you should delete the text in green and replace it with the real information from your meeting. If you need to add another line: • Click into the line above where you want the new, blank line to be. • Open the ‘Table’ menu. • Select ‘Insert’ > ‘Rows below’. Name of meeting Location To do before meeting To bring to meeting Role Chair Write whether it is a class council, year council, sub-committee, or school council meeting here Write in which room your meeting will be here. Date Time Write on what day and date you meeting will be here. Write the start and finish times of your meeting here. Write anything that people should do or read before the meeting here. Write anything people need to remember to bring with them to the meeting here. Name The name of the person who will run the meeting. Representing In this column you should write who each of these people represents: the people who chose or elected them. Initials Use initials in your minutes rather than writing full names. Put them in this column as a reference. Secretary Teacher Time-keeper Representative The name of the person taking notes. For some meetings people are just representing themselves, so you can leave this column blank Write the names of all the people who should come to the meeting in this column. You might need to add more lines. School Councils UK, 3rd Floor 108-110 Camden High Street, London NW1 0LU Tel 0845 456 9428 Fax 0845 456 9429 Email info@schoolcouncils.org www.schoolcouncils.org School Councils UK Resources – Agenda and Minutes Template Please feel free to reproduce this resource with acknowledgement (non-commercial use only). © School Councils UK 2009. Time 1 3 How much time is allow ed for each item? Item Apologies Approval of last minutes Write what the issue is. Person Sec. Sec. Who is bringing it up? Discussion Who could not make the meeting and why. Any mistakes made in minutes from last meeting. Action Who When Matters arising from last minutes In the area below, people report back on things that should have been done by the time the meeting happens. Write all proposals here and how the decision was made in this column. You can also write any major objections people brought up. Write the action plan for each thing you discuss in this column. Who will take charge? When will they report back? Agenda items The area below is where all the new things to discuss go. Write what the issue is. Who is bringing it up? Any other business Any urgent issues that have come up since the agenda was sent out go in the area below. Write what the issue is. Who brought it up? 1 Date of next meeting Chair School Councils UK, 3rd Floor 108-110 Camden High Street, London NW1 0LU Tel 0845 456 9428 Fax 0845 456 9429 Email info@schoolcouncils.org www.schoolcouncils.org

Tags 14-19, agenda, Citizenship, effective, KS3 (P7-S1-S2), KS4 (S3-S4), meetings, minutes, Participation, pupil/student/learner voice, school councils uk, school/student/pupil council, template

Resources

School Council Event Planning Sheet

Post author By Asher
Post date 04/09/2009

This form will take you through all the basics of what you need to think about to plan an event.

Use it with the School Council Event Budget Form to plan a great event.

Created by Asher Jacobsberg at School Councils UK.

Print or download (‘save’) this resource using the ‘More’ button.
School Council Event Planning Sheet

Tags 14-19, Citizenship, Conferences & events, KS2 (P3-P4-P5-P6), KS3 (P7-S1-S2), KS4 (S3-S4), money/finance, Participation, project management, pupil/student/learner voice, school councils uk, school/student/pupil council, template, tips & tricks