We are very proud to be a Rights Respecting school and Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) says that children and young people should have a say in decisions that affect their lives.  A  school council can provide a meaningful way in which pupils can voice their opinions and have their views taken into account in decisions which impact upon them.

Experience from schools here and further afield shows that a school council that is supported and nurtured helps to improve many aspects of school life.

It is an important and useful way for schools to provide leadership and development opportunities for their pupils.  

Within the school curriculum, one of the key areas making up the ‘Learning for Life and Work’ theme is active participation.  The curriculum requires that young people are provided with opportunities to participate in school and society. School councils are an excellent way in which to increase participation, teaching young people about democracy, local and global citizenship and accountability.

The school council help to make decisions about how the school is run and take on projects that support the children's learning and development, such as organising charity events, representing the school at outside events or ensuring the school is environmentally friendly.

It was with great pleasure this morning, that Ms Lampard spoke to the juniors (Y3-Y6) about the upcoming Rights Respecting School Councillor elections. A rights respecting school council is a formal group of pupils within a school who are elected by their peers to represent them and their views.

The election season is open and children may display a maximum of 2 posters around school to promote their ambition to be elected. The Hustings will take place on Monday 18^th September, when the children will have to make a speech to their class to persuade them to vote for them. Our ambition is to continue to grow courageous advocates as we have had previously. Ms Lampard asked the children to think big and be bold! What differences do they want to see around school, or even for the wider world?

Previous RR Councillors led a successful campaign to have the zebra crossing outside the infant school replaced with a safer pelican crossing. They campaigned to have the speed limit reduced from 40 miles to 20 miles an hour outside the infants. Another year, the RR Councillors lobbied the council’s meals service to serve less meat at school dinners across the week to help reduce the carbon footprint. The council adopted this policy and meat free Mondays across all Waltham Forest schools was born!

In addition to the junior elected councillors, four Y2 children will be chosen to contribute their views. The RR councillors have got some fantastic trips booked to the Town Hall, to City Hall and to the Houses of Parliament as part of learning more about democracy and to see that what they are doing is part of a bigger picture of elected people having a say and listening to others.