School Council

The Abbey School Council 2010/11

Our School Council consists of twelve pupils of various ages across the school, who have been nominated by their fellow peers.

The aim of the school council is to give the children of the Abbey School a voice and representatives of their opinions. One of the governments important initiatives is Every Child Matters and through the School Council, we are able to put this message into practice.

The School Council has many aims. Its first priority is to the children and how we can make our school a safer and happier place. This is achieved through meetings, where we discuss this question and then carry out questionnaires and surveys. We put this information into a report and relay it the school governors.

The School Council is a thoroughly rewarding and exciting experience for the children of the Abbey school. Although it requires commitment and hard work, it also allows the children to meet people from different walks of life, share experiences with new friends and learn life skills and values.

It is a really enjoyable opportunity and it truely represents The Abbey School ethos: Working Together With Our Friends, Family and Parish.

We would like to congratulate our new school councillors for taking on their new roles. They will hold regular meetings with Mr Kirke throughout the year to share new ideas and help make decisions about the Abbey school. We know they will respresent our school well.

Current Project

At the moment the Abbey School is working alongside members of the Birmingham City Council to assist them in their new project: the regeneration of the Lyndhurst Estate. The School Council is committed to making a difference to others by helping the wider community, as well as the school.

This project began in December 2009 and it has given the children the opportunity to meet and discuss their ideas with contractors, builders, site management and the local press. Currently we are sharing our ideas with local councillors from the Council House regarding the current image of Erdington and we are working closely to support these changes.

School Council Aims

For all children to take an active role in the life of the school.
Be involved, where appropriate, in some of the decision-making that takes place in the school.
To learn to solve problems fairly.
For the council to be a forum for pupils and the Headteacher/Deputy Head to take part in discussions on various topics raised in the school.
For children to learn how to talk about things that affect them.
For children to take responsibility and help improve behaviour.
To become better listeners.
To help improve the school environment.
For pupils to learn appropriate skills in arranging, running and recording meetings (present agenda, Chair/Vice Chair to run meeting, Secretary to record the minutes of the meeting, Chair/Vice Chair to report back to pupils as appropriate).

Further reading: General Principals for the School Council (pdf)

Dragon's Den Presentation

The following article has been written by the Sutton Observer following the School Council 'Dragons Den' presentation in January 2011. We are very proud of our children and the impression that they made on our visitors. Thank you children.

And thank you to the different organisations named below who offered time and resources that will help to make the children's plans a reality. Hopefully we will have an 'Outdoor Classroom' by the summer.

Children at Abbey Catholic Primary School presented a ‘Dragons Den' event to prominent members of their local community on Tuesday 18th January in a bid to obtain funding for an Outdoor Classroom. Children from the proactive School Council professionally presented their bid which included plans to provide covered seating areas, a wildlife area and a sensory garden in the grounds of the Erdington School.

Peter Chester, Barbara Adams, Pam Rayment and Bernadette Sweeney represented G F Tomlinson's, and offered to project manage the construction of the garden. Local Councillors Robert Beauchamp and Robert Alden representing the Erdington Ward, generously donated funding for part of the project. West Midlands Police were represented by Sgt. Neil Lloyd with PCSO Sue Haskins and promised to enlist the support of the local Police Force, Fire Service and Territorial Army as part of the workforce. Also present were Jenny Harris from the Yenton McDonald's who kindly donated meal vouchers.

"The experience has been a unique opportunity for our children to develop important life skills of communication and working alongside local businesses," said Mr. Kirke, the Deputy Head.

"We are hoping that parents, teachers and the children will be involved ‘in the build' so that they have a true sense of ownership and accomplishment when the project is completed" said Peter Chester, Contracts Manager for Tomlinson's.

'Dragons Den' presentation.

The outdoor classroom.

Lyndhurst Estate Learning Walk

School Council are working closely with Birmingham City Council, contractors, planners and police to help improve the local area for the future. School Council took a walk around the local area and shared their ideas on how to make Erdington a lovely place to live today AND tomorrow.

The Lyndhurst Estate.		Examining the plans.
Working with community support.		Learning more about the estate.
Gathering information.		Meeting press, builders and contractors.