Home Farm School Council – Where every voice matters!
What is our School Council?
At Home Farm Primary School, our School Council is the heart of pupil voice. It’s a place where ideas, opinions, and suggestions from every class are heard and valued. The Council meets every three weeks, and minutes from each meeting are shared on our website for everyone to see. Each September, two children from every class are elected by their peers to represent them on the committee. These councillors work closely with our elected Governor, who attends meetings whenever possible and spends time talking to the children to ensure they feel respected and empowered.
What does the School Council do?
Class representatives play a vital role by reporting back to their classmates after each meeting and bringing forward topics for discussion, anything from school meals to playtime activities.
Our councillors have even taken part in staff recruitment over the past few years! While some interviewees find this experience daunting, many say it’s one of the most enjoyable parts of the process, and we’ve never had a child who didn’t want to be involved.
The School Council also loves to get creative! They’ve organised exciting competitions such as The Great Home Farm Bake Off, art contests, talent shows, and much more.
Last year, we teamed up with the ECO Council to run a hugely successful book exchange, ensuring every pupil at Home Farm went home with two new books for their personal library.
This year, for the first time, we partnered with Colchester Food Bank to support our local community through a Christmas shoebox appeal. Our councillors worked tirelessly to make this project a success, and the experience has been truly humbling for everyone involved.
When our school is evolving and changing the School Council always get to have ‘their say’, recently the children have been working with SLT to create posters about mental health awareness within our school community. The council are often consulted on decisions that will impact the school, such as our conversation corner, the name of the peaceful place and much more.
Senior prefects attend all School Council meetings too, taking their own minutes to share with governors.
School Council Trips and Experiences
Our councillors don’t just meet, they explore and learn! Some have attended Multi-Council meetings, where representatives from 16 schools come together to discuss important consortium issues.
They’ve also visited the Colchester Food Bank to see firsthand how their shoebox appeal helps families in need.
And for the past two years, our councillors have enjoyed an unforgettable sailing trip in Brightlingsea. This adventure teaches teamwork and collaboration as the children sail a barge, fish from a trawler, and learn vital safety skills at sea—a truly fantastic experience!
Minutes of the School Council Meetings
Click to read the official minutes