The Bilingual Primary School

School Council

The school Council at BPS is made up of 18 individual representatives from each class from Years 1-6.  We meet regularly to discuss issues related to the school and to help share students’ ideas, interests and concerns with members of staff.  Pupils are actively involved in the decision making process in school, influence school life and take on projects that support the children's learning and development, such as organising and publicising charity fundraising.

Acting as representatives of their classmates when discussing school issues and aspects of school life.  Each year, there is a particular focus for the council.

Last year, the school council worked on the following areas:

• Representatives from the school council chose which games and activities would be available in the playground for break and lunchtime.  They elected to have a quiet area for reading and games, to have a basketball court and the three table tennis tables.  Both the children and staff have commented on how much this has improved behaviour and made break times more enjoyable.
• Last year, the school council were presented with a choice of library designs from different companies and chose their favourite.
• Pupil voice.  Each term, the school council canvasses their class on the issues they think have improved and are working well and the areas which need improving.  They meet with the Head Teacher to discuss their ideas. 
• Leading fundraising events through the year (children in Need in November, organising the Christmas jumper appeal for Save the Children and Comic Relief Red Nose day in March)

The current school council’s focus is on continuing the improvement of the school playground using the ideas from all children and choosing a wide range of non-fiction books for the library as well as all the charity fundraising.

At the beginning of the school year, all previous school counsellors explain what they have been doing in a school assembly.  They talk about the impact they have had on the school and why it is an important and responsible role.  Following the assembly, each class votes for a school councillor to represent them.  Children who are interested in becoming a school councillor are given the opportunity to present themselves to the class, explain why they would be a good choice and outline their ideas on how the school is run.  This is in line with the school’s PSHE focus on the democratic process. Before the end of September, each class then democratically votes for a councillor.