School Council- pupil voice!

At Clanfield Junior School, pupil voice really matters. We believe that children should have a say in shaping the school they belong to, and we take their ideas and opinions very seriously. Listening to our pupils helps us make meaningful improvements and ensures our school continues to be a place where everyone can thrive.

Each School Councillor is elected by their peers through a democratic process. Children present their ideas to their classmates, explaining why they would make a great representative, before a vote takes place. This process helps pupils learn about democracy, leadership, and teamwork — and shows that their voices truly count.

The School Council meets regularly with Mrs Dawkins to discuss key topics and ideas. They have also met with members of staff, including the caretaker, Finance Officer, and Governors to talk about budgeting, future aspirations, and whole-school projects. From time to time, special guests and parents join meetings to share their perspectives and work together on new ideas.

Every child at Clanfield knows that their opinion matters. If they have a suggestion or want to see something change, they can share it through their class suggestion box. Agendas are shared with all classes so that everyone can contribute their thoughts, which are then discussed at School Council meetings.

Decisions made so far include:

Agreeing and designing our shared school values
Fundraising ideas for Comic Relief
Agreeing a cosy soft clothes day following peer requests
Raising money for a scooter shed and visiting stores to find the best value shed for our money
Collecting ideas to make lunchtimes a fantastic experience for all- now there is a big range of toys with something for everyone to do!
Organising a tuck shop by surveying items with pupils, and then selling these at break times
Compiling rules and expectations for the woodland area
Agreeing a shopping list for indoor playtimes

We are very proud of the achievements made by our school councillors in just one year, and thank each one of them for inspiring so many pupils to apply for the role in Autumn.

One brilliant example of pupil voice in action was when councillors gathered feedback about lunchtimes and discovered that some pupils wanted a quieter space to enjoy. They shared their findings and suggestions with Mrs Dawkins, who helped bring their ideas to life. Thanks to the amazing support of Barratt Wilson Homes and our local volunteering group, The Tree Gang, this vision became a reality over the summer holidays — transforming an area of the school grounds into a calm, welcoming space for children to enjoy during lunch and break times.

Before:

Large hedge wasteland area

After:

New tranquil area with seats and stepping stones.

2025-2026: This year, councillors have also elected their new leaders — Gloria as Chair and Theo as Vice Chair — who will be developing their leadership skills and learning how to guide meetings over the coming months.

Our new school councillors have already leapt into action and attended a virtual meeting with Baroness Grey-Thompson, to help deepen their understanding of the House of Lords. She shared her experiences from her time completing in the Olympics, along with her current role as a Member of the House of Lords. She was very impressed with the children’s questions and responses.

Children sat around a table.

Current/live projects:

Our School Council continues to make a real difference at Clanfield Junior School, acting on the ideas and feedback shared by their classmates. Following feedback from last year, the councillors have been consulting pupils about school uniform and are currently busy designing new trim trail ideas to enhance our outdoor play spaces. Councillors have led class meetings to help model how to create a new adventure space, using the prompts below:

Examples of safety surfacing Examples of stepping stones