Citizenship and values work. As a learning community we feel that we are most effective when we work in harmony as caring citizens who share a happy workplace. The staff try hard to model values in action and the children respond with their views on what works well and how to improve the school further. Discussions take place every fortnight with all of Key Stage 2 pupils, the headteacher and the 4 elected councillors. These sessions have proved invaluable in shaping our school and improving the community in which we find ourselves. Kells Lane Park, the new dining centre, improved menus and play spaces are all better for the involvement of our children. This year we are working on the Olympic values to enrich the work and to help the children see that these games are far more than a sporting event. Watch out for the World Dance Day Guinness World Record event and the decorating of the school building with values banners for the torch relay….
Kells Lane Student Council began in 1999 with its first student council elections. Since then the opportunity has arisen for children to participate in elections and become voted in for the academic year. At first these were from Year Six but in May 2006, a change was made to invite younger children from Year Five to stand for succession planning. The timing was also changed to bring Student Council elections in line with those held locally. Now children in Year Five are invited to stand for election as Student Councillors. This allows the outgoing student councillors to train the newly elected members, enabling them to take on the role in September.
Every child in Year Five designs their own election leaflet. Members of the Kells Lane Senior Leadership Team make a short-list of leaflets which are to be read out at the hustings. Children selected, are then able to run their own campaign. Children from Year One to Year Five are able to vote, using an official Kells Lane ballot paper in council ballot boxes. At the end of the hustings, the votes are counted and verified before the returning officer announces the names of the four student councillors for the coming year.
For 2011-12 the elected representatives are Jack Anderson-Harrison, Laurie Baldwin, Thomas Cole and Ellen Weaver.
The school has been held up as an example of good practice to others and has Student Councillors have presented at numerous conferences across the region, helping others to develop their systems. A highlight of the citizenship work and awareness of how our democratic processes work nationally is the annual London visit often including visits to Downing Street and The Houses of Parliament.
Student Council sessions are held for all 240 children in Key Stage Two on Tuesday mornings. There is an agreed agenda for the academic year which can be viewed here. Agenda For KS2 Student Council Meetings
Student Council sessions are also conducted for children in Key Stage One and they occur once each term. Agenda for KS1 Student Council Meetings.
