Page 19 - Handbook for House Staff Aug2024

House Councils
General Points
• A House Council should meet in all Houses at least once every term
• The House Council should contain at least one pupil from each year group.
• Minutes should be taken (they can be taken by a pupil).
• The minutes should be displayed on a House notice board with specific reference to agreed courses of action.
• HouseM responses to the minutes should be added and displayed on the notice board
• The House Council should generally concern itself primarily with House issues. Wider issues can be passed onto the School Council or to other parties as appropriate.
Further ideas
• Ideally, the House Council should contain the HouseM, Deputy HouseM and one House Assistant (although it may not always be possible for everybody to be present at all meetings)
• Ideally, the House Council should be run by a pupil. This may be the Head of House or another pupil may be given this responsibility.
• The House Council representatives should talk with the members of their year group to secure their views before the meeting. House Council representatives should also feedback to their year group after the meeting.
• Guests can be invited occasionally where appropriate (e.g. a representative from the Catering Department, Estates Department) which can be arranged through the Deputy Head Pastoral.
Why?
• An opportunity for pupil responsibility.
• Pupils learn about different channels for communication and effecting change.
• Pupils sometimes raise issues in a House Council meeting that they may not make during informal conversation in the boarding house.
• Boarding National Minimum Standard 13 - Securing boarder’s views:
– “Boarders are actively encouraged to contribute their views to the operation of boarding provision. There should be clear and easily accessible systems for boarders to provide their views and raise concerns. Boarders’ views are considered in decisions about the running of the school and boarding provision and boarders are provided with feedback about their expressed views. Boarders are not penalised for raising a concern in good faith.”
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