Commons Speaker launches School Council Awards
26 February 2010 (updated on 22 April 2010)
Students from Little Heath School in Reading and Brecknock Primary School in Camden joined the Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow to launch a groundbreaking new initiative.
The Speaker’s School Council Awards Scheme, which will be run by Parliament’s Education Service, is designed to boost interest among students in democratic values. It will recognise the achievements of school councils, particularly where they have made a difference to a school or local community or to the environment.
Students from the schools spoke at the launch event at the House of Commons. The pupils from Brecknock Primary School talked about the rules they had developed for playing in the playground and secondary and sixth form students from Little Heath School discussed how they have developed a student conference to encourage pupil voice and input into the development of their school.
Speaker Bercow has sent out a letter to every head teacher in the UK informing them of the new awards scheme with details of how to sign up. School councils and their coordinators can then register for the initiative nominating their most effective, engaging and ambitious project.
Speaker Bercow said:
"It is clear to me that young people often first experience democratic values and practices through their school councils.
"As Speaker of the House of Commons, the institution sits at the heart of our democracy. I want to acknowledge this link by recognising and rewarding the achievements of school councils."