Certified school council training for local authority staff. Click on the below links for further information.

• Aims of programme 
• Dates and venues
  
• Programme objectives
• School Councils UK Certification
• Who is the training aimed at?
• Programme content
• Training fees
• Frequently asked questions
• Sources of funding
• Course registration

In 2004 School Councils UK established a national training standard for school councils through the creation of a certified Training the Trainers programme. Over 200 participants from 80 local authorities have now completed the course.

During the two-part, four day residential course, participants will learn how to deliver our programmes for groups of primary and secondary schools, as well as those designed for individual schools.

Aims of the Programme

• To establish a national training standard for school councils through the creation of a certified ‘Training the Trainers’ programme

• To support LAs in their promotion of school councils as a key tool for school improvement

• To enable LAs to meet the ever-widening government agenda of pupil participation and pupil voice

"At last there is a trainers’ course that is fully supported with a superb range of materials that allow cascade training to be easily selected and effectively used."
John McCusker, Assistant Advisory Officer for Citizenship
Belfast Education & Library Board

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Dates and Venues

Cumberland Lodge, Windsor
26th-28th January 2009
20th-22nd July 2009

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Programme Objectives

• To provide participants with guidance on organising school council training events

• To explore ways for participants to work collaboratively with schools and other agencies to support school council development

• To enable participants to share expertise and create a forum for continuing professional development

• To familiarise participants with the Trainers manual and the School Councils UK vision and model

• To enable participants to deliver School Councils UK training programmes

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School Councils UK Certification

On completion of the course, participants will be able to promote and facilitate local school council training. They will be permitted to identify their LA training programme as the official School Councils UK programme.

They may also adopt the status of certified School Councils UK Trained Trainer. The success of this school councils training model depends on quality, which is constantly being improved through practice in thousands of schools.

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Who is the training aimed at?

All local authority professionals who have a responsibility for promoting and supporting school councils in local schools. If local authorities send at least two representatives on the course this will make the implementation and furtherance of the work on return more effective.

The course is intended to support:

• Citizenship & PSHE Advisors

• Senior Advisors

• School Council and Participation Workers

• Youth Workers/Advisors

• Education Welfare officers

• Advanced Skills Teachers

• Healthy Schools Advisers/Co-ordinators

• School Improvement Officers

• Educational Psychologists

• Connexions Advisors

• Learning Support, Learning Mentors & SENCOs

• Behaviour Support

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Programme Content *

(Participants are welcome to stay at the hotel the night before)

Day 1 

• Introduction to the School Councils philosophy and unique training programme
  

• A consideration of the impact of student participation on academic achievement and the effectiveness of schools
  

• Ensuring that the school council establishes and maintains a high profile

Day 2

• A voice for all children through the establishment of class councils

• Workshops with teachers and pupils currently running effective school councils
  

• Supporting the senior leadership team with effecting change

Day 3

• Opportunities for all participants to practice delivering sessions from the training manual

• Working with individual schools - helping establish school council policies and development plans

• Developing a training strategy for all schools in your authority

The one day follow-up

• A sharing session by participants of successful local approaches
  

• Issues prioritised by course participants prior to attending the course
  

• An in depth examination of how schools are engaging students in improving learning in school in innovative and sometimes challenging ways

"The training was both useful and informative. I now have a greater understanding and confidence in training material"
Steven Brand, Curriculum Development Advisor for Citizenship
Essex County Council

* This is a sample programme and may be subject to minor changes.

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Training Fees

The all inclusive fee for taking part in the Training the Trainers course is £1500. There will be a £100.00 reduction for additional participants from the same authority.

You will be responsible for traveling to and from the training venues.

This fee covers:-

• Four days of training in groups with a training ratio of one tutor to no more than twenty-five participants
• Supporting course materials and a complete set of ready to use training materials
• Complete set of School Councils UK toolkits and DVDs
• School Councils UK training certification valid for two years
• Membership of the Trainers' Network for assistance and support
• One year's membership of the School Councils Network which provides access to exclusive online facilities, a database of school council case studies, regular email updates and subscription to the termly school council magazine, VoiceBox
• Two nights accommodation for part one of the course
• Refreshments and all meals from lunch on day one of part one to lunch on day three; refreshments and lunch during the follow-up day

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Frequently Asked Questions

1). Are there any pre-requisites for the course?

This course is not suitable for novice trainers; participants are required to have delivered a minimum of ten training days for young people and/or adults.

2). Who will deliver the ‘Training the Trainers’ programme?

Trainers and guest speakers will include the following:-

• Senior members of the School Councils UK team
• Senior leaders from schools recognised for their good practice
• Nationally recognised experts in the field

3). When will the second part of the programme take place?

Part 2 of each course, the one day follow-up, takes place six months after Part 1.

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Sources of Funding

In addition to any LA budgets, the following may be sources of funding for this initiative:

• Awards for All
  
• National Healthy Schools
• Extended Schools
• Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership
• Children's Fund
• Community Foundation Network
• Learning & Skills Council (14+)

You can also make a funding request directly to the Chief Executive of your authority as this programme is relevant to a number of departments including:

Inclusion; Public engagement and Democracy; Crime reduction; Participation and Citizenship; Drugs Education; Neighbourhood Renewal.

School councils are an effective way of meeting the five outcomes of Every Child Matters
'School Councils and Every Child Matters' download

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Course registration

Booking form >>>

If you have any queries, or would like further information about this programme please contact Jess Levene on 020 7482 8916 or email Jesslevene@schoolcouncils.org

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