School Council

Although the Senior School has had a successful School Council for a number of years, this September saw major changes to its format. The objective of School Council remains unchanged, namely to represent the recommendations and opinions of the pupils to the Senior Leadership Team in order to improve the school. However, whereas previously it comprised 40 or more people sitting around a (very large) table, with all the attendant difficulties, the School Council is now divided into two levels: Year Group Councils and School Council Cabinet, both of which meet once a term.

Each Year Group Council (there are three- Middle School, Upper School and Sixth Form- chaired by Mrs. Francis, Mrs. Syred and the Head Girl respectively) meets to discuss the issues, opinions and recommendations brought to it by School Council Representatives, who continue to be elected by their peers. The minutes of the three meetings dictate the business of the subsequent Cabinet, chaired by Mr Bachelor and comprising senior representatives from the Year Group Councils. Cabinet's purpose is further to discuss the issues and then to condense the will of the pupil population into a set of useful and realistic recommendations that can be put before the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) for consideration.

As well as the girls raising issues that concern them, Miss Haydon has asked us to discuss a specific matter in each of the three terms this year. These are: School Uniform; Rewards and Sanctions; how to make our school more environmentally ethical. The new structure is working well so far, and it is particularly pleasing to have the involvement of Sixth Form students for the first time.