Class and Student Council Meetings

Class and Student Council Meetings
Class/student councils and meetings provide an organised forum for students to contribute to decisions
about class and school activities.

Planning
1. Consider possible ways of organising the council.
2. Establish the ground rules and structures that will create a workable council and effective council
meetings.
3. Determine the roles within the council and during council meetings, eg chairperson, recorder.
4. Agree on time limits for speakers.
6. Encourage students to determine issues to be discussed within the established ground rules.

Managing
1. Elect students to take on the roles of the council as determined.
2. Explain what an agenda is and the need for one. Encourage students to list points for discussion on
the agenda by displaying on a classroom wall:
– Introduction
– Purpose of meeting
– Possible topics...
– Update from... .
3. Focus on the main purpose of the council/meeting as a way of bringing about change and not as a
forum for complaints.
4. Implement decisions that are reached.  It is important that students know they have the power to
bring about change.
5. Include time for evaluation to see if decisions reached have solved problems or resolved issues.
6. Encourage everyone to speak clearly and listen attentively. The use of prompt cards may be helpful here.