How does our School Council work?

  1. Each year group has its own Year Council, consisting of democratically-elected representatives, from each form class, who meet at least twice within a half-term. Heads of Learning support the facilitation of these meetings .
  2. The School Council consists of a group of democratically-elected pupils (two from each Year Council), who meet on a half-termly basis with the Head Boy, Head Girl, Deputy Head Boy and Deputy Head Girl in order to represent, share and discuss the views, ideas and opinions of other students within the school. A member of the School Leadership Team supports the facilitation of these meetings.

Council representatives work alongside other members of the school community, in order to maintain and improve our school environment, with the intention of ensuring that Hebburn Comprehensive School is a collaborative learning community where everyone’s opinion is valued: where everyone is happy, feels safe and has the ambition to be successful.

Representatives from the council take on the roles of Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer, ensuring that pupils take ownership of meetings, so that opportunities are taken and responsibilities are met.

Aims of the School Council:

  • Our School Council is a much-valued vehicle for pupil voice. It exists in order to benefit pupils, teachers and the school environment as a whole.
  • The council enables pupils to exert a positive influence.
  • It enables pupils to become partners in their education and in the functioning of their school.
  • Pupils are a force for positive change within the school environment and ethos.
  • They help to instil a sense of community spirit and togetherness.
  • Our democratically-elected council provides our students with the best forum within which to develop their skills and their understanding of what it means to be a good and active citizen.
  • Contributing to the school community supports pupils to develop in confidence and to develop as individual citizens, who can make a meaningful contribution to their school environment, but also to the wider community.
  • Through the school council, pupils learn to listen to others and to recognise their own right to be heard.

What kinds of issues are discussed at meetings?

Council meeting agendas are ever changing and, on the whole, the pupils determine the direction of these meetings; however, there are always agenda items based around learning and contribution to both the school and wider community.