Pupil Voice - School Council
Oliver Goldsmith has an active School Council. School Councillors are elected by their class and bring any issues, concerns or ideas their class may have to council meetings.
School Council & Democracy In Action at OGPS as part of our commitment to promoting British Values
At OGPS we promote the democratic processes through the election of school councillors. Each September we revisit the concept of democracy and pupil voice, with the children taking part in the campaign and election process from Year 1 to Year 6. Our Year 6 pupils are charged with the responsibility of leading and take on the roles as Chair, Vice Chair, Clerk and Vice Clerk. The school council fosters the concept of freedom of speech and group action to address need and concerns. They make presentations back to their classes and to the school governors. They are supported by a member of the Senior Leadership Team, our Deputy Headteacher, Mrs Dean
OGPS School Council: Run by the children, for the children
The School Council has key responsibilities:
- To represent pupils, discuss issues that classes bring to their attention and work to resolve them.
- To select the charities that the school will support each academic year.
- To respond to annual pupil survey results and work to solve problems.
- To help with school development to make the school an even better place.
The 2022-23 School Council Team
Meet the current school councillors:
1M - Harold and Sofia N
1T - Eshani and Khush
2L - Suhana and Ali
2P - Alicia and Thierry
3AV - Mya-Dior and David
3C - Sithev and Aurelia
4D - Mahi and Ray
4B - Yug and Prisha
5LA - Saachi and Benas
5O - Omair and Kymiah
6S - Amesha and Harsh
6D - Hawa and Eshan
Some of our school councillor's speeches:
- Being a school councillor is a huge responsibility
and I am ready to lift the burden of that responsibility. Many people in my
class know I am a person of my word so I will always tell the truth. My policy
will be I will not just make a decision but I will ask the greater community
for answers first.
- I would like to be a school councillor because I
would like to help and follow the school rules.
- I would be a good school councillor because I am confident and a good listener. I am also a caring person. The most important thing to me is making sure everyone is happy. I want to encourage people if they are sad and to cheer them up. I would like to change the school football pitch because the goals are too small and I would give food to charity. Thierry, 2P.
- In years 3 & 4, I had been nominated to be our school councillor. During those years, Covid 19 was at its peek and because of that we had to go into lockdown. Due to this, I was not able to show you all, as my peers, the skills and capability that I was determined to use during my time as your councillor. However, this motivated me even more to try my best this year, to lead you, as my class, give advice and offer my help to all of the pupils. I hope that you see potential in me and believe that I will do everything I can to make our last year at OGPS as exciting and fun as possible. Hawa, 6D.
- I really want to make positive changes inside and outside this classroom. I would like to make lasting changes to the school so that other key stages can enjoy the school. First of all I would like to raise money to buy more sport equipment that could be used at break and lunchtime. To improve our school environment, classes could find more areas to plant around the school. We could contact the council to clear rubbish outside the fence. I would like to ask the council for money so we could plant trees or bushes along the fence which would stop dumping outside our school. As a school, we also need to help our local area by regularly arranging fundraising events and donations to our local foodbank. Times are tough for everyone and it’s important that we help people in our area. Eshan, 6D.
- I will make more areas of the playground for people to play such as (skipping areas) and I will give more equipment (four square balls, skipping ropes, footballs, basketballs). I would like to organise more fund-raising events where we can raise money for the school and different charities. Looking at the difficulties the world is having for example the floods in Pakistan, the living crisis in the UK. We as a community should come together and fundraise for this cause. Omair, 5O.
- I would like to be school councillor because since my first day at this school, I have never been rude to children and my friends. I have not been careless and I would like to ass another after school club (Korfball) because some children like it. Yug, 4B.
- I want to be councillor because I am caring and will take children to welfare. I want to teach everyone to be kind to each other by saying nice things every day. Eshani, 1T.
- I want to be school councillor because I will keep
everybody safe. If anyone runs away somewhere dangerous I will tell the teacher
and make sure everyone is safe. I like everyone to be happy. Khush, 1T.
- I think I should be school councillor because I
care about our school and I want to make it an enjoyable place.
- I will be kind to my peers and will respect
everyone’s wishes.
What difference has our School Council made at OGPS and beyond?
- In Autumn 2023-24, school councillors and their classed voted on their charities: Cancer Research & Save the Children, we have a SUPER HERO DAY planned for 1st Dec 2023.
- In autumn 2022-23, school council and their classes voted on their charities: Make a Wish & Cancer Research.
- School council decided that to raise money they would host a pyjama day and hold a cake/bake sale was held.
- In autumn 2021-22, school council and their classes voted on their charities: WWF and Cancer Research UK.
- In autumn 2021-22, the school councillors helped shape our whole school Behaviour, Anti-Bullying and Exclusion Policy by deciding on the reward systems.
- In 2020-21, the school councillors, alongside their classes, decided to support UNICEF (international charity) and Cancer Research (national charity). They raised £362 for UNICEF by running a 'Mad Hair and Accessory Day' and £714.76 for Cancer Research by taking part in a school run.
- As the school was closed from March to July 2020 - the school council were unable to meet - the same children elected for 2019/20 stayed on as school council members in Autumn 2020 and Spring 2021.
- In autumn 2019, school council decided to support Brent Foodbank for both Harvest and for our main charity.
- In summer 2019, the school carried out a Read-a-thon to raise money for our own school as well as raising money for Northwick Park Hospital, Children's Ward (Jack's Place). With the money raised, we purchased 40 DVDS that were delivered to Jack's Place to cheer up some of the children who might be staying there.
- In autumn 2018, school council chose to support Brent Food Bank both for our Harvest appeal and in a fundraising event. We raised over £1000 for Brent Food Bank.
- June 2018, governors chose to support the children's second place election issue which was new toilets! The school council chose the new designs and colour schemes for all the toilets at a cost of £85,000! When they were opened in Sept 2018 there were lots of happy pupils and parents!
- May 2018, children ran a school election on local issues - the issue with the highest votes was the "stationery party" who promised that children could bring in their own pencil cases to school. This was put into effect in the last half term of the year!
- March 2018, School Council running fundraising event for Sport Relief 2018. By having a non-uniform day and setting up active adventure trails in the playground, the school council managed to raise £572.05 for sports relief.
- February 2018, School Council met with our catering team from Chartwell to help give feedback and shape development of school meals.
- 17th November 2017, "Mad or Bad Hair Day" for Children in Need raising £384, see newsletter for more details Edition 54 Fri 10th Nov 2017.pdf
- In 2017-18, the School Council elected their year six leaders and chose to support Children in Need in the autumn term. A school wide vote is being carried out select an international charity for the spring term and a local charity for the summer term.
- In the year 2016-17, School Council ran stalls at the Y6 Christmas Fair to fundraise plus organised a whole school talent show in the summer term to also raise money. Their chosen charity for the year was "Save the Children".
- The School Council was responsible for helping select the new KS1 playground equipment installed in the summer of 2016.
- The School Council set up the playground rotas so there is fair chance for all pupils to use different area and equipment.
- The School Council were part of the interview process to recruit a new Headteacher in February 2015 and Deputy Headteacher in January 2016.
- The School Council has met with our catering team from Chartwells to help shape the school hot meals menu to encourage more children to try a hot meal.