Young people need to learn much more than there is in the National Curriculum. But how?
An innovative approach to school councils may be the answer.
Learning to Lead has developed an approach to school councils that:

Involves the whole school community from the beginning

Through a series of assemblies, an on-line survey and a day where the whole school plans for the future, every student is involved.

Is based on self-election

So, in The Blue School, a large comprehensive school in Somerset, where the approach has been developed over a five year period, more than 200 students are currently members of the School Council.

Operates through self-managing teams

In the Blue School there are now 22 teams including the Healthy Living Team, the Gardens Teams, the Beautiful School Team, two Toilet Teams, the Africa Link team, four Fundraising Teams, the Dyslexia Support Team, Waste and Recycling Team, Energy Team and the Transport Team. Teams continue to form as students come forward with their ideas, motivated by a desire to contribute.

Involves training every council member in the skills needed to work together independently

Every student receives training. The students meet each week in their teams to plan their activities. The teams are supported by one or two Link Teachers, the Governance, Management, Finance and Office Support Teams. Students learn: team working and facilitation skills; agenda planning and minute taking; collaborative decision making; planning; goal-setting and budgeting; the distinction between /governance, management and action and the meaning of accountability, transparency and responsibility.

Produces a rolling five year school council development plan

The teams produce five year plans which join together to form the five year school council development plan. The Governance Support Team negotiates with the Head Teacher and Chair of Governors to make sure the plan integrates with the school's development plan.
Students share their achievements and ideas in the termly School Forum, a meeting of all members of the school council and year representatives.

Learning to Lead offers:

Training for Link Teachers
Materials for an assembly to launch the on line survey
The on line survey and analysis
Materials for the presentation of the results in assemblies
Materials for the 'THIS IS OUR SCHOOL' whole school planning day
Materials for the assembly to launch the School Council
Training for students or for student trainers (Link Teachers or others)
Collaborative decision-making tools
A comprehensive CD of useful documents that help the School Council to work in practice
Laminated A3 posters of the tools
Ongoing advice and support
Opportunities for Schools, School Councils and their students and Link Teachers to network and collaborate

Dowload more information about Learning to Lead (pdf file)

Learning to Lead in Cornwall?

Cornwall Healthy Schools have been interested Learning to Lead for a while and through our regional coordinator we were given the opportunity to have Susan come to Cornwall to tell us more about it. Our interest has turned to enthusiasm and we would like to explore the possibilities of bringing LtoL to Cornwall.

We are planning to hold a briefing meeting for schools and other stakeholders to tell you more about the LtoL approach and to see if we can set up a pilot programme.

More information about the briefing here soon.