Head Boy & Girl - Thoughts

[Undecided1985]

My DCs attend a state primary with 2 forms so approx 65 pupils

eldest DC is now yr 6 and the school have votes for head and deputy head boy and girl across each of the 3 school terms so that 9 of the yr6! children get the chance to be head boy or girl

When this first was mentioned to me I thought it was odd as its a case of children simply voting for their preferred child rather than children being interviewed or asked to provide evidence or ideas of why they would be the best for the role. I did tell DC I didnt really agree with it as a concept as it was obviously open to people voting for family friends or even people they were actually scared of.

Not great in general but in DC yr there is a large group of family friends in one class so it was obvious they would all agree to vote for each other in turns which they did and secured roles. In the other class there is a large number of bully type children who did the same. So each of the roles was filled this way.

I appreciate it may sound like sour grapes because my DC didnt get the votes. But I just find the concept odd and unhelpful.

DC has done ok at other things based on ability and I agree with voting in school counsel ot various committees where the children are asked to demonstrate what they would do.

I had never heard of it at primary (probably just me being out of touch as we never had them at promary)

what do others think?

Our local primary invite the kids to apply for head of house (and deputies), and then the staff select from their applications.

I used to have to run elections for my form's school council rep (year 7/8). I agree about the problems of people voting in friendship groups. I'd not been given any instructions on the form of any election, so I used to wait and see who was standing, and then decide. One year, I had one kid standing from each of three factions, plus one who wasn't in any of the factions but got on pretty well with everyone, and would be an excellent choice. I gave them all two votes each.

My daughter is in year 1 and in our area the infant and junior school is separate rather than a primary
The infants where dd is had "votes" for a school council from reception, year 1 and year 2 and have a boy and a girl from each class (2 classes per year group) so a total of 12 kids

Who happen to be school dinner ladies kids, governors kids or maybe mummy is on the PTA and are basically hand picked and none of them probably have a clue about it

I disagree with it I think they're far too young and they seem to get all the treats and for doing nothing!!

I should add all these kids get the best parts in the Christmas play, get to open the Christmas/ summer fair and go round selling raffle tickets etc.... they get to go and visit local charities If there's been a fundraiser, and basically rub other kids noses in it and it would be much better to give everyone a chance at something.
It's caused alot of upset

worriedaboutmoney2022

I heat you! yes to an extent this has happened in our school mainly because of the group of friends whose parents are friends all voting strategically over many years! so their kids have overly featured on every school counsel and committee. Its frustrating and very hard to bite your tongue as a parent because you dont want to be negative or have to explain why Tom always gets chosen type thing and its because of factors not much to do with Tom himself.

Luckily my DC is very good at a few certain things so has to be included in them as they kind of cant ignore them. But lots of well intentioned kids who arent in cliques get forgotten about when they have so much to give and the school should do a better job of including them all in someway imp

As I mentioned at the start I don't really agree with HB HG roles at primary and at our school the process via which they are selected isn't great. My DC was left disappointed and I was left unhappy with the process.

This is life but I put the thread up to see what others thought and its a mixed bag but some do agree or see my point which is good

My first thought was that it was daft and potentially biased. But as an introduction to how democracy works, it does have some merit.

@ColdHappyBap oh please tell me that the child whose idea it was got on the council!

At the school I work at, Head Boy/Girl and Deputy Head Boy/Girl are staff appointments by the Year 5 teachers and SLT at the end of the year. House Captains are voted for by students after giving a speach (and they never know if we fudge the results slightly...). I think this is a good system otherwise it just becomes a popularity contest.