• Are the class representatives elected democratically?

• Do all the class representatives have a chance to tell their class what happened at the school council meeting?

• Do all pupils have a chance to discuss school council issues and class/ form-based issues?

• Are pupil council meetings held often enough and at regular intervals?

• Is the school council executive (i.e. chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary, treasurer) elected annually?

• Do the school council members respect and listen to each other?

• Are the staff supportive?

• Does the school council have a budget and a bank account?

• Have the class representatives and the school council executive been trained?

• Does the school council have too many representatives?

• How many representatives are there from each class?

Are the class representatives elected democratically?

A school council is a forum for all pupils to have their say, this means that everyone must have their say in electing their representatives. To encourage people to vote fairly, make sure that the pupils understand why they are voting and what qualities are required in an effective representative.

Class representatives should have an opportunity to report back to their class soon after the school council meeting. This ensures that issues dealt with at the meeting are still fresh in the minds of the representatives. If there is not good communication between the school council and the classes the school council can be isolated from the pupil body and the pupil body will not feel involved.

Do all pupils have a chance to discuss school council issues and class/ form-based issues?

All pupils in the school should have the opportunity to develop the confidence and communication skills that are fostered through pupil councils. Frequent class/ form council meetings give everyone a real opportunity to get involved and to develop skills. In primary schools class meetings help to foster the sense of the classroom community. In secondary schools form meetings help to build a sense of belonging in a dynamic environment.

Are pupil council meetings held often enough and at regular intervals?

Holding school and class/form council meetings at weekly or two-weekly intervals will help to ensure that:

• Agendas are kept short and interesting
  

• Meetings do not go on for too long

• Discussion focuses on action, rather than deciding what it is the council wants and then asking the teachers to sort it out. 

• The school council can build up momentum and get exciting projects moving.

• Issues that trouble pupils can be dealt with swiftly.

We recommend that the executive stays in place for a year. This way the pupils on the executive really gain expertise and the rest of the school gains from their efficiency and their example. An executive that becomes skilled at their jobs will be more effective at involving the rest of the pupils in the activities of the council. So enabling all pupils to gain experience and develop skills. The rest of the pupils can have a go at taking on the executive roles in their class/ form council meetings.

Do the school council members respect and listen to each other?

Council meetings must be orderly and fair, everyone should have an equal opportunity to talk and to be listened to. If people aren't listening to each other, take time to agree a code of behaviour for guiding the meeting, who talks when and how is permission given etc. (normally through the Chair-person).

• Different members of staff will need to take on different roles with regards to the pupil councils. The school council will need a link teacher for guidance and support. If the link teacher is not supportive and effective it is very difficult for the council to fulfil its potential.

• For class/ form councils and successful communication between the school council and the classes, the class teachers/ form tutors need to be supportive. They need to allow time for meetings and feedback to take place. It may be that staff are not fully aware of how the school council can benefit themselves and the school. If this is the case then try to demonstrate the benefits of the school council, or ask the link teacher to run the introductory session for staff from the Primary or Secondary DIY resource packs. 
  

• The pupil councils will need the support of non-teaching staff as well as teaching staff, make sure that all staff are involved in the preparation and introduction of the school council. 

• The headteacher also needs to support the school and class councils. Sometimes there are important issues that require discussion with senior staff, the head or deputy. The school council chairperson should have the option of arranging a meeting with the headteacher in the same way that a teacher can. There should be at least one meeting a term between school council representatives and the headteacher or deputy.

• If the council feels that staff are not supportive then try to show responsibility in the issues discussed and actions taken. Try to gain a record that shows the council is serious, responsible, active and effective.

Does the school council have a budget and a bank account?

The council should have a budget and a bank account, however small. The council can raise their own money by fund-raising and then have the responsibility for spending the money in a fair way. Pupils should be signatories on the cheque book as well as a teacher. Banks will allow even primary pupils to be co-signatories for cheques.

Have the class representatives and the school council executive been trained?

The jobs of the class representative and school council executive involves various skills, e.g. the ability to listen to others and represent their views, the ability to report back about meetings. It is essential that school council members have had some sort of training that shows them what their role involves and how they can fulfil their role effectively. See the training pages for information about School Councils UK training.

We recommend a maximum of 20-25 representatives for a school council. In larger schools it may be necessary to divide the council into upper and lower school councils. Often large secondary schools have year councils (if there are more than four classes in each year) and then representatives from the year councils make up a school council.

How many representatives are there from each class?

If you have two representatives from each class it will be more likely that each pupil will feel comfortable approaching one of the representatives about an issue that they want to bring up. It is also useful for class representatives to have a vice to help with the job. Often schools like to have a boy and a girl from each class.