Previously, school council was a termly meeting of form representatives and members of the student leadership team that allowed students to share ideas on how to improve our school. From the start of this school year in September, whilst striving to meet that same objective, the school council has taken a new step towards prioritising the student voice and, more importantly, taking action to implement those ideas. 

To make sure that all year groups are heard equally, Lower School, Upper School and Sixth Form councils have been taking place every half-term. This has meant that everyone’s ideas are heard, recorded and discussed by Student Leadership with the Directors of Lower School, Upper School and Sixth Form, in order to distil this feedback and make a plan of action. Any ideas which require more student feedback have been taken to the whole school council in which representatives from all year groups meet to provide more insight into finding a solution. As a more transparent model of what the school council used to be, students have been informed about ideas which are feasible and have been implemented and those which need more discussion, in assemblies. 

A particularly notable achievement of the school council is that sanitary products have been made available for all students to use freely in bathrooms across the school. Having the opportunity to talk to peers from all across the school has been such a productive way to effect change in our community and increase communication between different year groups. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time leading the school council this year and hope the enthusiasm and openness around sharing ideas continues to benefit the students and the school in the future. 

Reeti, Deputy Head Girl 2023-24