WHITCHURCH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT COUNCIL

Agenda

1. Welcome and introductions

2. Apologies

3. Year Council Feedback

4. Year 7 transition

5. Sub committee membership

6. Lower school resources

9. Any Other Business

10. Close Of Meeting

STUDENT COUNCIL

MINUTES

Date: / Thursday 10th October
Staff Present: / Mr Hodnett
Miss A Smith
Students Present: / Year 7: Yasmin Jazani, Manon Jones & Peter Baldwin
Year 8: Ella Mayer &Holly Jankovic
Year 9: Max Rowlands & Carys Phillips
Year 10: Jack McCormack, Thomas Pycroft, Jasper Williams & Emily Hermen
Year 11: William Buckingham, Rhys Battle, Finn Provan & Lucy Dickinson
Year 12: Tamjid Miah
Year 13: Enya Lehane & Bethan Dennis
Apologies: / James Dickinson
Agenda item:
Items raised:
Action points: / Year council Feedback
  • Pupils raised the issue of toilets on both the lower and school sites. SKH reassured lower school pupils that the toilets are due to be improved as part of a rolling programme of development
  • Overall, pupils felt they liked the new school uniform, however there were issues raised in regards to sizing and quality (some have had to replace parts of their uniform multiple times). Also, Year 10 felt that they would benefit from having a normal tie rather than a clip on one as it would prepare them more for the world of work, the clip on ones are being removed by other pupils and they are quite uncomfortable.
  • Year 10 pupils feel they need a clearer explanation as to what Welsh Baccalaureate is and how is will benefit them
  • Issues with regards to lower school changing rooms were raised. SKH informed the council that the changing rooms are in the process of being renovated and are due to be complete by the end of the academic year.
  • Pupils were concerned about study leave for Year 11. SKH highlighted that the council imposed the later study leave on the school and the school did not make the choice.
  • The issue of water machines/fountains to fill up bottles in both upper and lower school was raised. THIS ISSUE WAS RAISED MULTIPLE TIMES IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
  • Some pupils questioned what progress has been made in the possible introduction of a house system throughout the school, as suggested by the young evaluators.
  • When selecting their GCSE options for the first time on the electronic system, some pupils did not take it seriously which may have affected the distribution of subjects in the columns
  • Lower school pupils thought that another hot drinks machine would benefit them as there is always a big queue for the existing one and there are disused vending machines that could be replaced with this.

  • An assembly is to be organised in which teachers will explain to year 10 what welsh baccalaureate is and Year 13 students will also talk about their experience of welsh baccalaureate.
  • Bethan will raise the issue of study leave for Year 11 when she attends the Cardiff Youth Council
  • SKH to ask Mr Jones-Williams about the possibility of water machines
  • Year 10s are going to email the SLT with regards to the house system
  • SKH will stress the importance of the first selection of GCSE options to Year 9 to ensure they take it seriously

Agenda item:
Items raised: / Year 7 Transition
  • A member of staff had suggested to SKH the idea of having a zone on the lower school site in which only year 7 are allowed. Although pupils were grateful for the suggestion, they didn’t feel it would benefit year 7 or other years.

Agenda item:
Items raised:
Action points: / Sub committee membership
  • The Eco council is in the process of being set up, however many pupils do not know about it
  • Finn is interested in establishing an international committee to create links with partner schools in foreign countries

  • Sixth formers are to attend lower school assemblies to inform the pupils about the Eco council
  • Finn is going to take names of those who would be interested in joining the international committee and find a suitable time to hold a preliminary meeting

Agenda item:
Items raised:
Action points: / Lower school resources
  • Pupils felt that picnic benches in the newly paved Lower School quads would be beneficial

  • SKH to discuss the possibility of picnic benches with the SLT

Agenda item:
Items raised:
Action points: / AOB – Any Other Business
  • Upper school pupils questioned whether it would be possible to have a path to the entrance of the Astroturf so they do not have to cross the field in the winter
  • SKH explained the new mentoring scheme that is replacing TPI day. The scheme focuses on target setting and reviewing

  • SKH to ask the SLT about the possibility of a path to the Astroturf

Papers Distributed: /
  • Agendas
  • Minutes to be forwarded to student council members and members of the senior management team by email.

Date of next meeting and Agenda items /
  • Next meeting: To be decided
  • Agenda items: Students are to send any agenda ideas to Bethan Dennis by the Thursday before next Student Council meeting.

SKH=Mr. Hodnett

SLT=Senior Leadership Team