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VOICE MEETING
D4 13 NOV 2008
Rory Gill (Chairman) welcomed everyone.
•Ideas for Anti-Bullying week =
17 – 21 November 2008
“Being different, belonging together” –
Assemblies – Martyn, James, Joe, Bailey + (hopefully) Joe Harry
Posters – James, Olivia, Matt, Bradley, Tino, Frankie, Sabre
CPSHE – Powerpoints from Shelby and James; Mrs Sage will write two possible lesson plans for tutors
•‘Blue’ (non-uniform) Day – request for future years.
•Website & newsletter items – Frankie, Aaron, Jordan
•Bully monitors – all VOICE reps will be active next week. Hannah said that this should always be happening.
•Freebies – sticky ‘badges’ for assemblies.
•Short plays in assemblies or for future parents’ evening – Hannah said that 9 Gomer was ready + James, Mary, Dylan, James Flynn, Bradley, Olivia, Matt, Josh, Frankie, Shane, Ashley, Peter, Victoria, Sabre, Liz.
•‘Coffee mornings’ for pupils in D4 – 20p per person – ‘drop in’ for chat about issues of concern – Bailey, Martyn, Ashley, Tyler and Dylan.
•Reconsider timetable – 20 pupils wanted one week timetables; 7 preferred two weeks; 1 abstention; 3 non-votes
•Years 7 & 8 take ICT exam in Yr 9 yet have no lessons except those on the D&T roundabout. Lily – difficult to fit into one week timetable. Millie & Alex will speak to Mr Gallier.
•Too much homework for some pupils – but useful preparation for GCSE revision and coursework needs. Homework timetable doesn’t correspond to lessons. Matt will check if his teachers are setting the right amount for Year 8 pupils.
•Some Year 9 pupils don’t want to take GCSEs early. Do they have to?
•Some groups are having limited option choices. They feel this is unfair.
•Hear by Right & SDP – Met Mrs O’ Mara last week to look through what pupils wanted – decided to precis whole-school priorities. Each person given part of the task to do. Some uncertainty. Mrs Sage offered to discuss with pupils. Return to Head Teacher on 20.11.08.
•Litter assemblies had been booked – postponed because of new commitments – Bullying next week?, then Environmental.
•VOICE noticeboard – thanks to Mrs Axton – please read VOICE outcomes + date of
next meeting.
For disco and other VOICE activities –
Sponsored activities – including run
Christmas card competition – Millie + Mark Winters
Easter art competition
Raffle in the library
Christmas carols in public – Dylan to speak to Mr Nobes
Bring and buy – Chris
Teacher in the stocks – James
Summer car washing – Shelby/ organised water fight
Cake competition – sell cakes after – buyers act as judges
Science projects as competitions
•Cafeteria – student cooks on the first Tuesday of each month + special days marked e.g. Pancakes on Shrove Tuesday
•Lesson observations by pupils – to be discussed with SMT after school on Thursday. Meanwhile, pupils should talk to classroom teachers about any problems.
•Date of next meeting =
22 January 2009 in D4
VOICE MEETING
LLRC - 2ND OCTOBER 2008
31 pupils representing 18 tutor groups
Rory Gill (Chairman) welcomed the large number of pupils to the first School Council session of the year.
He introduced this year’s officers.
He read through the Powerpoint record of the meeting of 25th September.
He then welcomed Mrs O’Mara who had come to speak on the first two agenda items.
Building Schools for the Future
•Complete rebuild in 5-6 years: a school suitable for up to 1000 pupils
•Will build on what is now playground; the present school will be knocked down to create new outdoor areas
•A team of architects and designers will be working on the new plans – interested pupils should apply to join the consultation group
School Development Plan
•Hear by Right team asked for a precis to be made available to all pupils and parents
•The document comprises contributions from SMT, all departments and the Governors
•Plus a summary of the Hear by Right group’s findings/ requests for action
•Liz, Bailey, Tyler, Alex, Shelby and Sabre volunteered to work with Mrs O’Mara on this task
Curriculum issues
Timetable – 2 week timetable means that pupils may not have subjects evenly spread across weeks – KS4 pupil thought it worked well. No ICT in 7 & 8 except module in D&T but exam in Year 9.
Lunch is too late – pupils said they got very hungry!
Curriculum issues continued
Time is needed between lessons. Leaving Science on time means you are late for French or Geography.
Controlled movement across classrooms at the top of the main building would reduce movement on the stairs.
There is no choice about whether GCSEs are taken early.
Safety
•There is some unpleasant behaviour on the stairs – Springfield has partitions to separate those going up/ down. BSF working party should be advised.
•Bike shed – More bike locks are needed. Year 9 pupil had nasty accident carrying her bike up and down steps. Can the back gate be opened at 3 p.m.?
•Some classrooms are badly arranged for the number of pupils in them.
And …..
ØToilets need soap/ soap dispensers and more toilet paper.
Girls have mirrors: boys would like them too!
ØBSF working party – bigger changing rooms are needed.
ØHealthy eating – more variety please – pizza and pasta are great (but not every day).
Behaviour matters
•Teachers don’t always answer questions – what are the reasons?
•Pupils may be trained to observe lessons and report back – large numbers of pupils volunteered to be involved, including the Senior Prefects.
Environmental issues
•Pupils would like more grass – would artificial turf be possible?
•Cage – boys play football – VOICE members should talk to teachers on duty when there are playground problems
•Smoking – in the cage/ toilets/ back of the French block. Andy Ames will run sessions for those who want to stop – names to CMC/ JHS
•Are we still recycling? Clay will speak to the school keeper. Can staff take it home?
There are sometimes mice on site …..
Head Boy pointed out that this is an inner city site with too much food waste/ litter.
School Council previously suggested an Environmental group.
Pupils volunteered to Litter Pick and prepare a presentation for assemblies – Sabre, Bailey, Matt, Ashley, Hannah, co-ordinated by Liz
DT for chewing gum? – clean bottom of tables!
Additional points
•Mrs Axton will order a notice board for VOICE information to be displayed where all pupils can see it
•KS4 pupils are invited to help Fareham police organise a monthly event for 15-17 year olds
•Date of next meeting: 13th November in D4
Planning meeting
18th September 2008
Representatives from all tutor groups were invited to attend. A large number of Years 7 – 10 met in D4. They were introduced to the present School Council officers …..
Officers of VOICE
Chairman – Rory Gill
Vice-chairman – James Flynn
Secretary – Lillie Boyett
Treasurer – Camilla Harrison
Publicity Officer – Hannah Dawson
Topics which were discussed:
•Progress on Hear by Right – document in School Development Plan
•Building Schools for the Future
•No elections for Reps – as many pupils should be able to attend meetings as possible
•Book LLRC if possible – otherwise D4
•Can we have a notice board for VOICE?
Training
•The Hear by Right group had asked for training.
•VOICE began by setting Ground Rules for meetings.
•Mrs Sage talked through possible agendas, future programmes and the organisation of School Councils nationally.
VOICE MEETING
2ND OCTOBER 2008
LLRC period 1 (8.45 a.m.)
AGENDA
Welcome from Chairman
Building Schools for the Future – Mrs O’Mara
Access to School Development Plan – Mrs O’Mara
Curriculum issues
Environmental issues
Any Other Business
VOICE – Your School Council
Make sure that your tutor group contributes to the discussions.
Be prepared to ACT!
Your chance to help to make St. Edmund’s the best school in Portsmouth.
Don’t be late!
Minutes Of school Council
12th June 2008
BUILDING SCHOOLS FOR THE FUTURE
Mrs O’Mara came to inform the pupils of the current situation:
Expect to move into new school in September 2011.
Budget is expected to be £21 million.
Need to provide a school for a new type of education e.g. computers at desks? Flexible spaces?
….. And there’s more!
The number of pupils will grow from over 180 to 200 per year group.
A sensory unit is proposed for a small group of children with sight and hearing problems.
Pupils will be asked for their ideas.
BUT, because of the economic position, we may be hugely refurbished rather than rebuilt.
This year’s Council will continue into next year with the addition of new members.
Chairman – Rory Gill
Vice Chairman – James Flynn
Secretary – Lillie Boyett
Treasurer – Camilla Harrison
Publicity Officer – Hannah Dawson
Assist. Pub. Officer – Callie Atkinson
Lily O’Flynn and Bailey Heydon remain as Council members = COPS representatives
Lily O’Flynn suggested VOICE (being the Voice of Interested Children at st. Edmund’s).
Look out for VOICE initiatives across the school!
•There are opportunities for Year 10 and 11 pupils to act as PAID Youth Advisers. See Mrs Sage/ flyers in registers.
•Lillie has made a suggestion box for her tutor group. Others to act!
•Seven of the group knew about SEAL. It was suggested that Year 7 groups should have (toy) seals in their tutor rooms and a SEAL box to write about their concerns.
•It was decided that this should be re-invented. Pupils agreed to recruit directly and generally.
•An attractive and exciting product should be produced each half-term.
•The first meeting will be held next Monday break-time in D4.
•The SNAG group (consisting of pupils, teacher, Bursar, school cook and parents) should be creating a Food Policy for the whole school.
•Pupils discussed aspects of the School food provision.
•Further discussions to follow.
•Dates will be published in the calendar issued to each member of staff in September and in his/ her tutor group folder.
•A list of dates will be given to each VOICE member and to tutors to pin on tutor group notice boards.
•If you want to work to help make St. Edmund’s an even better school, please come to VOICE meetings and be prepared to get involved!
Minutes Of school Council
1st May 2008
Apologies received from Year 11 attending special meeting and Year 7 & 8 Maths Challenge!
A small group of dedicated pupils met in D4:
Will Ross-Gerard, Martyn Ibbs, Brooklyn Wearn, James Knight,
Bailey Heydon
Matters arising from the previous minutes -
Suggestion boxes have not yet been produced for tutor rooms – Bailey, Brooklyn, Martyn, Will and James agreed to introduce their boxes during PSHE lessons 8th May.
We looked at the COPS disk and discussed:
Pupil Oscars – more information will go to tutor groups – those present will nominate people
Building Schools for the Future – Mike Fowler has spoken to lots of different groups already
“Get yourself to Geneva” competition information will go to all tutor groups
Cllr Vernon Jackson has asked pupils to make suggestions -
What makes us feel safe or unsafe? How can the situation be improved?
What are your opinions on the Youth Services? Any ideas for improvement?
What developments would you like to see on Southsea seafront?
What do you think about the environment locally? Have you any suggestions for improvements?
(A memo will go to all tutor groups. Replies to James Knight 8 GRANGE)
James Knight spoke to Mr Morgan. He will come and talk to the next School Council meeting on 12th June.
(Pupils had asked for Sports Days for each year group in the Summer.)
KS3 Post-Council information meeting 8th May 2008
Unfortunately, Year 9 will be doing their SATs. Is Ms Burke committed to that day or could the meeting be postponed?
Martyn and Will will organise refreshments
We might meet outside if the weather is fine
Council members will not be elected in future – we need volunteers who will be committed and work to make changes
School Council can then elect its own Chair and Vice-Chair (Year 10/9 and Year 8/7 perhaps), as well as Secretary, Publicity Officer etc. This would enable continuity from one year to the next
rather than starting afresh each time!
General agreement with Pre-Council comments concerning lessons and homework plus
More ICT specialist teachers needed
Homework should be set for ICT
More booster classes needed for SATs preparation e.g. in Science & English
Notes from KS3 Pre-Council Meeting
24th April 2008
Matters arising from previous meeting
Camilla and Lillie will ask Mrs O’Mara for another non-uniform day = Blue Day on 16th May.
PTFA is organising some activities – Bingo? KS3 Disco? Summer activity just before school holidays?
Missed the National Science Week this year: plan for March 2009?
Mrs Sage will ask Tracey Jones (Friends of the Earth) about recycling opportunities.
No elections for School Council next September – encourage members to carry on with Year 9 or 10 pupil as Chairman to facilitate progress from year to year.
Mrs Sage had to go and speak to new Year 10 Prefects, so Rory Gill chaired the rest of the meeting.
Pupils liked the idea of rewarding attendance at meetings with a ‘passport’ system and prizes.
Rory and friends are organizing a charity event based on “Whose line is it anyway?” Watch this space!
Pupils discussed lessons and homework …..
Divide time more evenly between subjects – more time for Art, ICT and Technology
Have shorter lessons, say 35 mins., but with doubles for P.E., Technology etc.
Have less homework especially in holidays
Pupils like Science and the homework that is set
History needs ICT lessons
Can we have wet break activities?
Restart the Science Club?
Finish earlier some days if possible
Notes from KS3 Pre-Council Meeting
6th March 2008
Present:
James O’Flynn 7 GOM
James Knight 8 GRA
Hannah Dawson 8 GOM
Rory Gill 8 GOM
Will Ross-Gerard 9 BRO
Martyn Ibbs 9 ROW
Points arising from last School Council Meeting 31st January 2008
1. Action: Will will ask Mr Morgan to attend the next SC meeting to discuss possible Sports Days
2. Some pupils are picking up litter as part of their detentions – but they need supervising!
3. If there is to be an Environment Group, there needs to be a member of staff who will run it as a club and make it fun.
Action: Hannah, Rory and James to talk to staff
And..
Pupils knew that COPS stands for Council of Portsmouth Students and that St. Edmund’s reps are Lily O’Flynn and Bailey Haydon (Year 7). It would be good to have the COPS DVD shown in the dining room.
(But a lot of people still don’t know about COPS….. It isn’t the police force!)
And..
The second HEAR BY RIGHT meeting has been held. Pupils have suggested: a message board/ suggestion boxes in tutor rooms; forum on intranet. Today’s group asked if there could be a weekly poll on important issues?
“We need fun”
Non-uniform days each term – Mufti/ red hair day/ historic characters/ book characters
More Design and Make days
Sports days
More trips (not just theatre)
Is Tim arranging Bingo? (Action!)
KS3 Disco 7-9 p.m. on a Friday
Summer ‘fair’/ activity day
Finally...
It is National Science Week starting 10th March.
Action: Martyn to talk to Mr Popley to see what can be organised.
Recycling is vital to save the environment. School Council should ask if paper can be collected from school again.
If your tutor group was not represented …
Your voice was not heard!
Ask your tutor to look in his/her CPSHE folder to find dates for School Council meeting and pre-Council meetings. Make a note in your diary – and do something about it.
Election Results
 Elections were held for School Council last Thursday. Congratulations to those pupils who were elected. They will be taking part in the first School Council meeting of the year on 5th October 2007. (No Year Meeting on 27th September because of late start after Open Evening. Sorry!)
YEAR 7 |
Lily O’Flynn |
James Flynn |
YEAR 8 |
Erin Darmanin |
Alex Effah |
YEAR 9 |
Nick Simister |
Nia McMeechan |
YEAR 10 |
Max Smith |
Ieesha Massiah |
YEAR 11 |
Christian Dacombe |
Ellis Wheatley |
Josh Colombi (Head Boy) and Lucy Mills (Head Girl) jointly Chair the meetings. Chloe Chrichton has been selected to take the Minutes. Grace King, Sophie Barrett, Tim McGonagle and Alex Tonigho (all Senior Prefects) contribute to the meetings and working parties. Associate Governors will be co-opted if not elected: Erin Darmanin has been elected; Matthew Sealey and Gabi Darmanin will be co-opted to the Council. St. Edmund’s has two COPS members: Alex Effah has been elected; Gabi Darmanin is the second member. Alice Ayles will also be co-opted.
Information will be received from and fed back to Year Councils which will meet before and after each School Council meeting.
To all pupils involved in voicing their ideas and opinions and helping to make things better, we wish great success in 2007-8!
Members of School Council are invited to the first meeting in the LLRC during period 1 on Thursday 5th October. Don’t be late!
School Council Dates For Tutor Groups 2007-8
PRE-COUNCIL MEETING FOR TUTOR GROUP REPS.
WITH JHS IN D4 |
SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING
(USUALLY IN LLRC) |
KS3 TUTOR GROUP REPS DISCUSS MINUTES
WITH PaLs (USUALLY IN LLRC) |
DISCUSSIONS IN TUTOR GROUP &
FEEDBACK TO SCHOOL COUNCIL (VIA JHS OR SUGGESTIONS BOX) BY |
2007 |
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27th Sept.
Cancelled – late start! |
4th October |
11th October |
18th October |
1st November |
8th November |
15th November |
22nd November |
2008 |
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24th January |
31st January |
7th February |
14th February |
6th March |
13th March |
20th March |
27th March |
24th April |
1st May |
8th May |
15th May |
5th June |
12th June |
19th June |
26th July |
School Council Elections September 2007
Early in the Autumn term, tutor groups were asked to nominate one or two tutor group members to form a Year Council. From those nominations, pupils were invited to speak to their Year group assemblies to persuade their peers to vote for them.
On 20th September, every pupil received a ballot paper and was given the opportunity to vote for the 2 nominees who should represent their Year group on the School Council. Below, members of Mrs Alvis’s tutor group can be seen deciding who to vote for.
  
Very soon, envelopes of folded ballot papers were brought to D4 where pupils were ready to act as ‘tellers’.
Ballot papers were carefully checked and the results presented as tally charts. These were then totalled and the winners could be declared.
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