School Council 2023
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Mahatma Ghandi
What is our School Council?
Each year, two students from each class are elected by their peers to represent their class, to help improve the school and to promote participation in a range of school, community and national events. We actively engage pupils as participants in their education and in making a positive contribution. Our school council is for everybody and we aim to develop and promote pupil voice and service to others.
School Events
This includes fundraising activities including national specific charitable events like children in need, sponsored fundraising events and also respond to children’s requests for how they would like our school to be improved. Last year, our children told us they would like more play equipment for our older children in Key Stage Two and particularly in Years 5 and 6. To help enable this, the children have planned and ran fund-raising events such as toy and book sales, Christmas jumper swaps. This year the school council will be taking suggestions for how to use this money for their playtimes.
We have been focusing on getting healthy in school alongside working towards our healthy school's award. Part of this has included the start of our Wake-Up Wednesday events. The school council have been instrumental in this event by helping to sell fruit pots!
Children in Need
Each year we raise money in school for Children In Need by dressing up and taking part in lots of fun activities. In November, we all dressed up in either Spots or Yellow. The costumes were fantastic and we are so proud of everyone's efforts; including the children who took on the burpee challenge. We raised a wonderful amount of over £1451.
Last week the School Council were busy again with another vote! Last year, the School Council raised £300 for new equipment for the KS2 playground. The Year 6 children helped to create some options for KS2 to vote for. The vote was very close and it took a long time to count; the children have chosen target practice sports games and these should be arriving at school shortly for everyone to enjoy!
When I Grow Up
We also look to the future. Our School Council is leading a whole school initiative to help our children to look at different career areas, understand career pathways and recognise their own skills, interests, and career goals.
Each month the school council will lead an assembly with an invited guest who will share information on their career and will answer questions from the children.
January 2023
Doctor Whaley shared details of the life of a GP. The children prepared questions including:
How long did you train for?
What subjects do you need to study?
What is the hardest part of your job?
Who inspired you to become a doctor.
Do you have to work at night?
Doctor Whaley told us that she loves her work, being able to help many different people, and that her proudest moment was safely delivering a baby in a carpark!
February 2023
Mrs. Cathy Mason answered questions about running a business. The questions included:
What are the challenges of being your own boss?
Where do you get new ideas from?
Who inspired you to start a business?
I’ve got a good idea, what do I do with it?
What has been the toughest day?
March 2023
Mrs Main is a manager at Betty’s tea shop in Northallerton. She kindly answered questions from the children about her career in the hospitality industry.
What do you enjoy about working at Betty’s?
How did you train for your career?
What would you change?
How do you manage challenging customers?
Is it hard being on your feet all day?
Would you recommend hospitality?
What are the most enjoyable parts of your job?
Do you love cake?
How could I train for a job as a manager?
April 2023
Doctor Potts is a sports scientist. She has worked with Leeds United Football Club and Leeds Rhinos. She shared details of her exciting job with us.
What do you enjoy about your job?
How did you train for your career?
What sports do you play?
What are the main challenges?
What did you have to study at school/university?
What are the rewards of your job?
Have you ever had a really bad day and wished you had a different job.
May 2023
Mrs McLintock who is a Crime Scene Investigator. A CSI examines the crime scene, looking for forensic evidence to identify the Offender.
How long did you train for?
What subjects do you need to study?
What is the hardest part of your job?
Mrs Mclintock showed us lots of the equipment that she used and explained how that helps the police in their investigation!
June 2023
Jo Phelps an Associate Director for Jacobs which is in the Highways Structures team from Stockton.
Jo came in on our STEM day in school. She set us a challenge to build a bridge using an inspiration from bridges she showed us. She explained that a lot of the projects that she has worked on has involved repairing or designing bridges.
September 2023
Tony is the owner of The Pancake House in Patley Bridge which is a busy successful local business. Here are some of the questions we asked him.
Is the food you make homemade or shop bought? What is your favourite food you make? How long have you had your business? Is it a family business? What is your most popular time during the day? What did you do to get to where you are today? What is the best part about having a pancake shop? Why did you choose to do your job? How fun is your job about of 10? What would you change about your job? What's your favourite part about your job?
