Student Voice
St Martin's Student Voice
St Martins Primary School is very proud of its fantastic Student voice (it used to be the school council). In the last few years the Student voice has really grown in strength and confidence and has had some remarkable achievements. Student voice takes an active role in making decisions and suggestions on behalf of the children in the school. Student voice is overseen by Mrs James.
How we work
Each class from Years 2-6 has two children who are elected by their classmates to represent them at Student voice meetings. The two class representatives then feedback at Student voice meetings. Each class have a Student voice book that is used to keep records of class meetings. The class representatives bring this book to the Student voice meetings that take place every Tuesday morning for approximately 20-25 minutes. A record of what is discussed at each meeting is kept and feedback to the classes through their elected representatives and a question is set for forthcoming meetings. We hold regular whole school assemblies to keep the whole school informed and they can also raise any concerns or issues. We have a noticeboard in the school playground to show what we have discussed.
Inclusion for all children
All children attending St Martin's have a voice in our Student voice. No child is
excluded from participating and contributing to Student voice. All children from Years 2-6 take part in student voice class meetings and can be put forward to be their class representative. No child is ever removed from a class Student voice meeting to take part in another activity. The younger children in Reception and Year 1 attend the regular whole school assemblies and take part in any activities that we organise.
Dealing with bullying
Here at St Martin's, the children encourage each other to be friends not bullies. Student voice instigated a 'Good Friends' award in 2010 which are presented by Ms Kneale. The scheme is still running in 2024. Every week, a child from each class is acknowledged by their peers for being a good friend. A 'Good Friend' sticker is then handed out during Friday Celebration Assembly to the children who have been nominated.
Our voice is heard
We often work with the Student/Family Support Team and the teachers when they are keen to get the children's point of view such as issues at playtime and lunchtime. We help the school IT coordinator, to raise issues such as keeping our children safe when they are on-line. We are often asked by Mrs Matthews and Ms Kneale to help interview potential support staff as we will be the ones working closely with them. We have put Mrs Matthews and Ms Kneale in the 'hot seat' when putting forward our questions and our ideas about what we want in school. However, we do realise that for Health and Safety reasons not all our requests, ideas and issues can be resolved to our liking. For example, we are allowed to have a climbing equipment and basketball nets on the playground but not a swimming pool.
Working hard to make a difference
We hold regular cake stalls and special wear-what-you-like days to raise money for the School Fund and charities such as Help the Heroes, Sports Relief, Children in Need and our local hospice. We have been working with the pupil eco-council to raise awareness of environmental issues within the school and beyond. We have children as litter pickers and there are recycling bins throughout the school. We actively encourage all children to be proactive about recycling issues and to conserve energy where possible such as turning of unnecessary lights. Student voice have raised money themselves by selling a craft item at the Christmas fayre this money went to small playground equipment and a new goal post.
Forging links with the wider community
Many parents come into school and help us with our cake sales, with reading and they also volunteer for other events such as the Summer Fayre, Christmas fayre and disco's.
We have lots of generous parents/carers who donate cakes for our cake sales and bring in many items for the Summer Fayre and Christmas Raffle. Our parents/carers are always very supportive when we have our wear-what-you-like days and are happy to help us raise money for charity. Student voice give back to the community where possible with activities like litter picking outside of school.
