School Council

“I have learned you are never too small to make a difference.” – Greta Thunberg 

What is the School Council?

The school council works to make improvements to the school and the way we do things at Christopher Pickering. We look around for things that could be better and discuss what to do. Everyone gets a chance to speak and when we’ve finished we vote on the best ideas and then start working on changing things. Sometimes we have to talk to teachers and sometimes we have to make phone calls to people outside of the school.

Why do we have a Children’s School Council?

  • To empower children to have a voice
  • To improve the school according to the children’s point of view.
  • To make sure each class has a platform to voice their opinions.
  • To discuss and raise issues.
  • To develop a student agency

Who are the School Councillors?

Every year we run an election campaign, following the democratic process to vote for two new representatives for each year group. A good representative will speak at the council meetings about things that their class is interested in. They will also tell their class about what is going on in the council meetings and put the minutes up in the classroom.

Meet our new school councillors 2024-2025

At Christopher Pickering Primary and as a Student Council we support the work of UNICEF and the UN Convention on the Rights of the child.

UNICEF works for children in more than 190 countries and believes that every child, no matter who they are or where they live, has the right to grow up safe, happy and healthy.

In 1989, the world’s leaders officially recognised the human rights of all children and young people under 18 by signing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Some of the articles in the convention; 

Article 3 (best interests of the child)
The best interests of the child must be a top
priority in all decisions and actions that
affect children.

Article 12 (respect for the views
of the child). Every child has the right to express their
views, feelings and wishes in all matters
affecting them, and to have their views
considered and taken seriously. This right
applies at all times, for example during
immigration proceedings, housing decisions
or the child’s day-to-day home life.

Article 15 (freedom of association)
Every child has the right to meet with
other children and to join groups and
organisations, as long as this does not stop
other people from enjoying their rights

Article 28 (right to education)
Every child has the right to an education.
Primary education must be free and
different forms of secondary education
must be available to every child. Discipline
in schools must respect children’s dignity
and their rights. Richer countries must help
poorer countries achieve this