Mile End School

Eco School

Health

The Pupil Forum was started at Mile – End in February 1998 after a very successful trouser campaign from girls in Primary Seven where presentations were made to the school board, staff and pupils. It was decided to harness this energy and make sure that pupils have a say in the decision making within the school.

The Pupil Forum is made up of 28 pupils – two representatives from each class throughout the school (Primary one pupils do not join the forum until term 4) Representatives are voted on by their class members and are expected to serve for a whole school session.

Mrs Kidd (D.H.T.) attends the meetings but any member of the staff may attend if possible and there is an open invitation to members of the management team.

The Forum is run along Circle Time Rules. Everyone is seated in a circle and has an equal say / vote. People must raise a hand if they wish to ask / say something and no one is allowed to interrupt another representative.

The Forum is held weekly in Room 11. Each class has a Pupil Forum Ideas sheet, which the pupils bring to a meeting if there is something the pupils in their class wish to discuss. ( Teachers to act as scribes for younger classes) If teachers wish to bring a matter to the attention of the Pupil Forum they must use the sheet too.

Mrs Kidd keeps the minutes and they are circulated to each class to be included in the Pupil Forum Folder. The Folder must be brought along to each meeting. Inside each folder is a jotter which the pupils may use to take notes at the meeting. Senior pupils scribe for the younger ones where necessary All pupil forum representatives are given the opportunity to report back to their class by class teachers ( Infant department teachers may wait for the minutes to help prompt reps if this helps)

Most meetings are concerned with business arising from previous meetings but the last 10 minutes at least of each meeting will be to allow new business to be raised and put on the agenda for next time.