To expect the school council to actually have some meetings?

[Dancergirl]

My oldest dd is in Year 6 and was voted onto the School Council at the beginning of the school year in Sep/Oct time. The School Council consists of 2 representatives per year from Year 1 upwards and they are supposed to meet regularly with the Head to discuss school matters.

They have had ONE meeting in January. They are supposed to have badges but they haven't had these yet. Dd has reminded her teacher (deputy head) a few times and he said he would remind the head but there have still been no meetings.

Dd was really excited to be on the School Council for her last year at primary school, as I imagine all the younger children were too and they all worked hard on their manifestos.

My friend's ds was on the school council a few years ago and the same thing happened - she felt he did nothing.

Fair enough if the head's too busy but don't have the school council at all if there isn't time for meetings.

YANBU.
Have you spoken to the school?

Our school council meets once each half term.
The children (infant school) are selected by their teachers, 2 per class. They don't have badges but their photo/name are on their classroom wall. For events such as special assemblies, etc they have a school cap they wear.

They have to have a school council in order to show Ofsted that they pay attention to Student Voice. It's a box-ticker.

YANBU, our school council meet weekly, have badges and many responsibilities. This sounds like a box ticking exercise which doesnt help the children at all.

Yup, definitely an ofsted box-ticker. It's worth noting that the majority of things our school council just can't happen as they are impractical or too expensive, but at least the children are meeting regularly and are being listened to.

I dislike school council. It's a popularity contest. Please do not dress it up as you've got to make a speech or a poster proclaiming why you would be good at it, because the children will just ignore it and vote for the person they like best.

If I'd £10 for every child (not particularly my own) who has said in front of me in a bewildered voice "but X didn't do the best poster" or "X just said vote for me" or "X didn't do a poster/speech" then I'd be rich.

I don't think school council helps the right children. The children that would really benefit from being on such a committee are those who are backward at coming forward, have ideas but are too shy to put them out in front of the class, struggle to make friends... And yes, my dc have been voted on, so this isn't sour grapes.

That's a poor show OP .

One of our Governors goes along to the some of the school council meetings. If you haven't got anywhere with the Head and Deputy perhaps mention it to one of the Governors - Parent Governor especially.