Stretford High School

Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow...

Application for the position of Student Council Facilitator 1st September 2012- 13th July 2013 Dear James The function of a Student Council is to help share students ideas, interests, and concerns with teachers and the Headteacher. Yet there must be an active role which extends beyond simply making decisions about the lack of amenities or the lunch menu. The Student Council must facilitate the democratic process within school by giving pupils a say in the big decisions made by the leaders of our school. I would like to highlight the ways in which I would increase student voice and link it to our community and the democratic process. Firstly, there will be a day of electioneering in order to elect the council. The entire school will be required to vote. Subsequently, student councillors will hold elections to elect Stretford Highs first School President. The President will be encouraged to take on wider responsibilities within school including council meetings and taking the lead in major school events. Secondly, the Student Council will hold surgeries every month allowing pupils to air their views and concerns. Student councillors will be required to attend some leadership meetings and voice the pupils point of view. At regular intervals they would also be required to feedback to all pastoral houses throughout the academic year. Thirdly, my hope is to involve the Student Council in a wider role as ambassadors for the school in the forthcoming interfaith event I am planning for the new academic year. We will focus on community involvement with many of the student councillors organising the event and co-ordinating the participation of parents and religious leaders. Finally, my Year 11 exit questionnaire (http://www.scribd.com/doc/94585828/ExitQuestionnaire-2012) is another example of how to empower student voice and allow pupils to have a say and a necessary impact upon the way we deliver GCSE courses. I would place this responsibility in the hands of the Student Council. They would distribute, collect and collate all the data. I have recently completed a scheme of work entitled Power and Protest and I discovered that all pupils want a say in the decisions made within school. Some of the major issues raised were the lack of student involvement in dealing with bullying, drafting of the mobile phone policy and major changes to the structure of the school. An example will be visible in the school yard on Friday 25th May when my Year 8 pupils will hold a protest rally. I would like to share this role with Katherine Fletcher; I feel we will collaborate effectively and maximise our expertise and efforts in order to make the Student Council a prominent, relevant and democratic institution in Stretford High School. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your reply. Kindest regards Faisal Ahmed