School Council

Rights Respecting School Council

Having been recognised as a ‘Rights Respecting School’ and achieved our RRSA ‘Level 2' in 2010, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is at the heart of our school’s planning, policies, practice and ethos.

A rights-respecting school not only teaches about children’s rights but also models rights and respect in all its relationships: between teachers/adults and pupils, between adults and between pupils. Article 12 of the UNCRC says that children and young people should have a say in decisions that affect their lives.

Being part of the School Council gives pupils an understanding and experience of democracy that goes beyond voting and tokenistic consultation. A School Council that listens to 'all pupils within the school' is a good way to do this. 

School Council members are the voice of the school and work closely with staff and pupils to make our school a better place! The School Council meets with Mrs Gmitrowicz, Head teacher, Miss Eddleston, Head of School, and Miss Northcott, Senior Mental Health Lead, every two weeks. The Council’s aim is  to ensure that 'all pupils within the school have a voice that is listened to'. This will help to demonstrate to children how democracy works by actively promoting democratic processes such as the council whose members are voted for by pupils.

Last half term all children in years 1 - 6 took part in a democratic vote to elect our School Council for 2023/24. The following children won their classes’ votes:

Year 1 - Jude, Grace, Elijah

Year 2 - Arlo, Somer, Toby

Year 3 - Rex, Maria, Jamie E

Year 4 - Aoife, Phoebe Rose, Jack

Year 5 - Noor, Lucia, Harry 

Year 6 - Lylah, Ashton, Rose and Zac S

School Council meetings provide a meaningful way in which pupils can voice their opinions, get involved in the life of the school in order to improve it and have their views taken into account in decisions which impact upon them. Through participation children will gain confidence, leadership opportunities and essential life skills. Our aims are to make Harrison even better, make a contribution to our local community and raise awareness of global issues.

As a school we must promote the social, moral, spiritual and cultural development of all pupils and within this 'Fundamental British Values' - democracy, the rule of law, mutual respect, tolerance and individual liberty. These are a set of behaviours that lead to attitudes and behaviours that will allow pupils to participate fully in and contribute positively to life in modern Britain. 

 

The School Council is responsible for: 

  • helping to make our school a better place for everyone
  • collecting the views of our classes, passing them on to the council and headship team
  • giving up some of our time to improve our school
  • being RRR ambassadors
  • helping to raise money for charities
  • being democratic when making decisions
  • making sure all children’s rights are respected in our school. 

 

The impact of our School Council, past and present, are numerous.