Student Council 2015STUDENT LEADERSHIP AT WEST LAKES ACADEMY

What is the council? It has 2 parts 1) Year group council 2) Academy student council

Council 2015 – we want you! We are looking for confident student leaders

If you want to make a difference to your own education then apply to be a form representative

You must attend fortnightly meetings, take notes and feedback to your tutor group or wider audiences when necessary.

Student voice is highly valued by educational establishments

Make sure you have your say about your own future!

Form rep nominations are happening this week – councils will be having their first meetings in September.

For more information see Mrs Blackhall or your Head of Year

What does it do? Year group council will meet at least once per fortnight and you will talk about matters that are important to your year group.

You will be given a list of topics to debate as tutor groups to feedback to your Year council as well as creating your own items for discussion

2 Year group councillors/form representatives will go on to join reps from the other year groups to form the Academy student council

What do I need to do? If you want to be a form rep you must be confident at talking to students in year 7 and other year groups.

You should be confident when talking to adults You must be organised – you need to keep notes, attend meetings, follow a schedule and encourage others to do so.

You should be willing to give assemblies and work with students in other schools

Why be on the council? The student council is highly valued at WLA.

The principal reads all of the meeting notes and acts upon them when necessary

Ofsted and other groups of visitors like to talk to the council to see what the students really think about education

You can really influence what happens at WLA, the council has been involved in decisions to do with the refectory, shelters outside, trips, lunchtime activities, facebook and twitter

As well as having input into the welfare at WLA, the council also gives teachers advice on which type of activities to do in lessons

You get to wear a fancy badge and be a student leader for your year group!

What to do next If you would like to be on the council, let your tutor and tutor group know why you are interested, think about the following things:

Do you have firm ideas about how you can make a difference?

Are you confident enough to talk in front of adults and students of all ages?

Do you have a good idea that you can put into place to improve life at WLA for all staff and students?

Are you organised? Can you direct other students in a friendly and constructive way?

If there are more than 2 candidates, the tutor group must vote for the best two form reps.

Why is it so important? Students talk everyday about things they don’t like and how they wish certain situations were different.

Student voice and student leadership is highly valued in the Academy, by other education specialists and later in life when you are applying for college and university

You have an opinion on educational and wider issues and you must learn to channel your point of view in a professional and constructive manner

You also have lots of brilliant advice to give to other students and we really value that – they are far more likely to listen to you than us, you have a very responsible position.

We see you, our students, as a huge asset and we are proud of you and value you.