Our School Council

Thomas Bewick School has an active and inclusive School Council made up of students aged 11 to 18, representing all pathways across our SEND provision. Council members are chosen democratically through a ballot linked to Parliament Week, helping students to understand and experience the importance of having their voice heard.

Council members play a vital role in gathering and sharing the views of their peers, ensuring that every child’s voice is represented—including those with significant communication needs.

The School Council works closely with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), creating a strong link between students and school leaders. This partnership ensures that pupils’ ideas, experiences and priorities directly inform school decisions and developments.

The Council is driven by a clear set of aims: to strengthen pupil voice across the school, improve the lives of children and their families, develop a strong and inclusive school community, and promote school spirit through fundraising and shared activities. Students also work to support improvements within the local area, helping to build positive connections beyond the school.

So far, the School Council has been involved in a range of meaningful projects. These include consulting with local facilities to enhance accessibility and partnership opportunities for people with disabilities, contributing to student voice work with the local authority, organising fundraising events and competitions, and supporting environmental improvements in line with sustainability goals.

Through this work, our School Council empowers students to make a real difference, both within school and in the wider community.