ECO-FRIENDLY children have reduced the amount of plastic used in their school after signing up to a national initiative aimed at giving ‘every child a voice’.
Dame Allan’s Junior School, in Spital Tongues, has become the first in Newcastle to form a Smart School Council, which aims to provide every pupil with the opportunity to have a say on what happens in their school.
The Council is currently leading on a number of ‘green’ initiatives which include reducing the amount of plastic used by bringing refillable water bottles to lunch, monitoring litter in the playground and saving electricity by switching off lights and computers.
The Smart School Council project differs from typical school councils which elect one representative from each year group to make decisions on their peers’ behalf. Under this new initiative, each and every child gets involved through regular class meetings.
At the head of the Council is a Communications Team consisting of pupils from all year groups from Reception to Year 6. This team meets weekly and it has already installed a suggestion box where their fellow classmates can raise issues or concerns.
A highlighted issue is then discussed and every pupil in the school has their say in class meetings where votes are taken. From this, Action Teams are formed with pupils encouraged to put their names forward.
Year 2 teacher Alice Smalley, who has introduced the initiative, said: “This is a scheme that is led by the pupils for the pupils with very little teacher involvement. Every child has a voice, both by being able to join the Action Teams and having the opportunity to vote on issues.
“It’s all their own ideas about what they want to happen in their school, and everybody is loving the fact they have the chance to have their say.”
Headteacher Andrew Edge said: “The scheme is already having such a positive impact on school life, and it is a great opportunity for pupils to decide what goes on in their school.”
The Smart School Council is also responsible for choosing which charities to support with current fund raising activities in aid of Sport Relief and Cancer Relief UK.