This half-term at Smart School Councils, we're sparking meaningful dialogues among our students with a variety of questions. The queries cover a spectrum from the logistics of attending school five days a week to student well-being and safety measures.
We'll also touch on how to improve various aspects of the school environment, from behaviour to teaching quality. Most notably, we'll be placing special emphasis on Black History Month, encouraging students to reflect on the level of representation and education about People of Colour in their lessons.
Each week we top up with some additional questions, but these are all available for you in your class meeting tool right now. Just search for them in the Question Bank :)
Scroll down for the debates!
Before we get started, here’s how you access them in your Class Meeting Tool ⤵️
Brain Stretchers 🧠
- Should schools still ask students to come to school 5 days a week or should some days be studied remotely?
- In school 5 days
- Some remote studying
- Is failure the end of the road, or the start of a new one?
- The end of a road
- The start of a new one
- Is it important to be truthful all the time or are there times where it’s okay to lie?
- Always truthful
- It’s okay to lie sometimes
- If someone gets upset by what you have said, is it your fault or their fault?
- Your fault
- Their fault
- If you steal money but use it to save someone’s life, does that justify the theft?
- Yes
- No
- Is there ever an excuse for prejudice?
- Yes
- No
- If someone’s intentions were good but the outcome of an action is terrible, at that moment, is the person good or bad?
- Good
- Bad
- If a person has an accident and is no longer able to contribute to society, has their value as a person decreased, increased, or stayed the same?
- Decreased
- Increased
- Stayed the same
General Questions 🤔
- How do you feel about the school year ahead?
- Excited
- Nervous
- Worried
- Relaxed
- Who should you go to if you feel unsafe in school?
- My teacher
- The headteacher
- My friends
- Any trusted adult in school
- What would your top tip be for other pupils this year?
- Ask your teacher if you need help
- Join a club or team
- Spend time making new friends
- Find out what you need to do to make progress and work on it
- Something else (add ideas on the next slide)
- We need a new Communication Team for our Smart school council. How shall we choose it?
- We should vote for the students
- Students should apply for the job
- Teachers should choose them
- Which of these do you think needs improving most in school?
- Behaviour
- Attendance
- Classroom Teaching
- School dinners
- Playground / Outside space
- When Queen Elizabeth II died on 8th September 2022, should there be a new Bank Holiday every September to mark her death?
- Yes
- No
- September is Friendship Month, what should we do most of to make our school even more friendly?
- Have 'greeters' to welcome new people to our school
- Have a table in the lunch hall just to eat and meet with new people
- Say please and thank you more to each other
- Have time each day set aside to talk and laugh as a class
- Something else
- What school trips would you like for this year?
- A seaside trip
- A sporty or active trip
- Aquarium or Zoo
- A science museum
- Something else
Take it Easy Questions 😎
- What makes you happiest in school?
- Being told why my work is great
- Being told why I am great
- Which is the best power? Controlling the weather or reading people's minds?
- Controlling the weather
- Reading people’s minds
- Would you rather be a princess or a dragon?
- Princess
- Dragon
- Who is it easier to tell the truth to?
- Your parents/carers
- Your teachers
- October is Black History month. Do you feel that you study enough about People of Colour in lessons?
- Yes
- No
- Would you rather read a book or watch TV?
- Read a book
- Watch TV
- Would you rather meet your favourite superhero or meet your favourite villain?
- Superhero
- Villain
- Favourite Halloween costume?
- Zombie
- Witch
- Something else
Half Term 1 at Smart School Councils
This term, Smart School Councils is not just committed to student engagement but also to fostering skills in oracy, a cornerstone of effective communication and critical thinking. Our programme is intricately designed to cultivate spoken language skills that empower students to articulate ideas clearly, listen to others actively, and debate critically. By integrating these oracy skills into our curriculum, we are better preparing our youth for a future where the ability to communicate is paramount. This aligns perfectly with British values, such as the importance of individual liberty, mutual respect, and the freedom to express one's own beliefs and opinions in a respectful manner.
Moreover, our series of questions offer fertile ground for debating debate topics that are both engaging and educationally enriching. These discussions not only serve as an excellent platform for practising oracy but also encapsulate the essence of British values like democracy and tolerance. By encouraging debates on subjects ranging from ethics to societal norms, we are promoting a culture of open discourse and ensuring that our pupils are well-equipped to participate meaningfully in society.
In line with this, we are focusing on Black History Month to imbue these British values deeply within our educational approach. We believe that an inclusive, respectful dialogue around history and race can serve as a practical application of both oracy and the values we uphold. These debates act as an invaluable tool for building a more empathetic, informed, and cohesive society.
By participating in Smart School Councils, students are not merely part of an institution; they are part of a holistic educational experience that prioritises oracy, fosters British values, and empowers the leaders of tomorrow.