Election fever grips St Mary’s

This week saw the annual student council nominations and elections. The elections follow the same pattern as they would on any local election. Any student interested in the position as Student Councillor must put their name forward for nomination; make a speech to their year group outlining their role and goals if elected. Then nothing more can happen until Election Day, when having produced some form of identification each pupil in the school votes for their preferred candidate.

According to School Councils UK, School Councils are about, “Giving every student in the school a chance to say what they want, knowing that they will be listened to and that their views will be seriously considered”. A few years ago when we decided that it was time for us at St. Mary’s to begin the process of setting up our School Council we wondered about that quote. We quickly realised that despite many fears a School Council is not about giving students a forum to make ridiculous or unachievable demands but more an opportunity to have their wishes discussed reasonably and where possible acted upon.

The overall aim of School Councils is to facilitate greater ‘participation’ by the pupil and student body in the day to day life of schools and it can be a matter of great pride, motivation and indeed responsibility for those who are elected by their peers to represent them as their school councillors.

In addition to this the way in which the elections are carried out provides for pupils a glimpse of the reality of elections and what to expect when they reach the age of 18 and formally participate in the democratic process.