School Council

School Council

At St Joseph’s, our School Council is an important way in which we put Catholic Social Teaching (CST) into action. We believe that every child is made in the image and likeness of God and therefore has inherent dignity, a voice and an important contribution to make to our school community.

The School Council provides an opportunity for children from every year group to participate in decisions that affect them and to work together to make St Joseph’s a place where everyone feels valued, respected, safe, included and listened to.

Our School Council helps children to understand that being part of a community means not only having a voice, but also listening to others, thinking about the needs of others and taking responsibility for the common good.

The School Council aims to:

  • involve pupils in making important decisions about school life

  • help make St Joseph’s a safe, happy, fair and inclusive place to learn

  • give every child an opportunity to have their voice heard

  • listen to the views, needs and ideas of classmates

  • develop children's understanding of democracy, citizenship and responsibility

  • work in partnership with adults to improve our school

  • help make decisions about how money and resources could be used

  • organise fundraising events and awareness-raising campaigns

  • improve communication between pupils and adults

  • promote respect, inclusion, kindness and fairness

  • encourage children to think about the common good and what is best for the whole school community.

How does our School Council work?

There are two School Council representatives from each class in Years 1 to 6, who are appointed at the beginning of each academic year.

The School Council meets at least once every half term.

Between meetings, School Councillors work with their class teacher to hold a Class Council session. This gives representatives an opportunity to:

  • share what was discussed at the previous School Council meeting

  • listen to the ideas, concerns and suggestions of their classmates

  • gather children's opinions about issues being discussed

  • bring these views back to the next School Council meeting.

School Councillors represent the views of their classmates to the Deputy Headteacher, ensuring that the Senior Leadership Team, governors and staff can make decisions that are informed by the experiences and views of the children.

Above all, our School Councillors understand that having a voice comes with responsibility. They are called to use their voice not simply for themselves, but to listen to others, stand alongside those who need support and work for the common good.

Through our School Council, children at St Joseph’s develop the confidence, skills and values they need to become active citizens who live out the Gospel values of love, service, justice, respect and compassion in our school and in the wider world.

Our School Council minutes are published on our website after each meeting. This allows our whole school community to see what has been discussed, the decisions that have been made and the actions that our School Council will be taking.