Ok, so you've heard a lot about them but what are school councils and what do they do?

What are school councils?

School councils enable pupils to become partners in their own education and to make a positive contribution to the school environment and ethos. The School Councils UK define school councils as:

"An elected body of pupils whose purpose is to represent their classes and to be a forum for active and constructive pupil input into the daily life of the school community"

What do school councils do?

School councils allow pupils to have a say in how the way things are run in the school. School councils are able to make recommendations to their principals and school boards on any matter. Principals and school boards, in turn, consult with school councils on a variety of matters that affect student learning. They must also consider recommendations made by school councils and report back to the councils on how they plan to act on their advice.

So how do we go about setting up a school council?

1. Give it time – you should not expect instant success, and many successful councils struggled for several years before finding the right formula for their particular school. When things go wrong, the important thing is to find out why, and to get it right next time.

2. Provide training – meetings, discussions, planning events – these are not easy and you will need guidance and support. Just like with the school football team or orchestra – practice makes perfect.

3. Build from the bottom – by encouraging all classes to have short, weekly meetings you will be allowing all students to share their ideas, and when elections take place excitement will be high. This will also overcome the ‘elitist’ label that is attached to some school councils.

4. Start small – Building a new swimming pool is probably not the best project for a newly elected school council. Confidence and success will come through small achievements like a suggestion box, a noticeboard or a simple sponsored event.


Set up a small group who will be responsible for preparing for the school council elections, e.g.:-

• publicity, e.g. a poster count-down campaign, announcements in assembly, an election newsletter
• Arranging training for class representatives, and the school council executive (i.e. chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary and treasurer)