What are people saying about school councils?

Politicians

"With citizenship on the timetable, I hope to see many more school councils for older pupils"
Tony Blair

"[Through school councils] pupils can have a real say in how they learn and achieve and can be much more involved in how the school is run, for example helping to interview new members of staff or contributing to decisions on school meals."

"School Councils have a vital role to play ... in promoting schools as strong community institutions."
Higher Standards, Better Schools For All, DfES White Paper Nov 2005

"School Councils give pupils an excellent opportunity to become more involved in the decision making in their schools and feel valued. They also give children an important and real life experience of citizenship"
Stephen Twigg, Former Minister of State for School Standards

"I believe that giving children and young people a say in decisions that affect them will impact positively on standards, behavior and inclusion"
Stephen Twigg, Former Minister of State for School Standards

Teachers

"I had to work out if I could afford the time but the payback in the way attitudes have changed has been phenomenal ... a limited input of time has had such a big effect"
Teacher, Lipson Community College 

"It was difficult for me to accept initially but if you are giving that empowerment to the students then you need to look at your own attitude, you must take the things they are saying on board"
Teacher, Lipson Community College

"Being involved in a school council can help to raise children's self esteem and help schools challenge unacceptable behaviour by a few."
Barbara Darley NAPE Chair Elect and Headteacher

"I cannot think of any circumstances in which a school could not think it to their benefit to establish a pupils' council."
Clive Lawton, Former Headmaster and Deputy Director of LEA Liverpool

"The councils give them some responsibility and power in the best sense of the word, as they use it to influence the other children. Peer pressure if it is used in the right way can be a very powerful tool"
Sue Shinkfield, Headteacher Toxteth

Pupils

"When you get something changed or done, you can say, yeah, that was what I did"
Pupil coordinator, Eastgrove School

Governors

"The ethos of the school councils is a really sensible one, students should have a voice in what's going on and the school council really gives them that voice"
Governor, Plymouth

Parents

"She looks forward to going to school ... she's got a role to play, she's more involved."
Parent, Windsor County Primary

"She was very unhappy about going to school but I've seen a change in her, she's a lot more confident, a lot more relaxed"
Parent, Lipson Community College

"If there is something wrong they will actually get something done about it, they won't just sweep it under the carpet"
Parent, Windsor Primary

Policy makers

"School councils can be a most excellent training ground in responsibility for future citizens."
Professor Crick 1998 Chair of the Advisory Group on Citizenship

"A school council can be an effective means of social education, even in our most deprived communities"
Peter Kilfoyle MP, Liverpool