Keeping Momentum: Ensuring Your School Council Keeps Going Past Christmas
It’s that time of year again - festive activities, end-of-term performances, and the last push before a well-earned break! But for many schools, this is also when their school council starts to lose momentum.
Maybe meetings are getting skipped, enthusiasm is dipping, or the council’s plans are on pause until January. The good news? It doesn’t have to be this way.
With a few small adjustments, your school council can keep its rhythm and finish the term feeling proud of what’s been achieved.
Here are four practical ways to keep things moving all the way through to Christmas (and make January a smoother start, too!).
1. Keep it simple - small steps count
December can be hectic, so focus on small, achievable wins rather than big new projects. Instead of launching something new, encourage your council to reflect on what’s been done so far and what they’re proud of.
📌 Action:
Run a short class meeting with a question like, “What’s one thing our council has improved this term?” or “What could we do better next term?” This gives everyone a voice, keeps discussions positive, and helps you gather ideas for January.
2. Celebrate your successes
Don’t underestimate the power of recognition! Sharing what’s gone well boosts morale and reminds everyone that their voices matter.
📌 Action:
Create a simple display or “Progress Board” showing what your council has achieved this term - perhaps ideas that became actions, votes that led to change, or thank-you notes from staff and pupils. It’s a quick win that reinforces impact before the break.
3. Give pupils ownership
A busy December schedule doesn’t mean meetings have to stop. Give pupils the tools to run class discussions independently, even if staff are stretched.
📌 Action:
Nominate pupil meeting chairs or discussion leaders to help facilitate short sessions. Use ready-made prompts from your Smart School Councils Class Meeting Tool to keep it quick and manageable. Pupils will enjoy taking charge - and it’s one less task on your to-do list.
4. Plan ahead for the new term
The easiest way to keep momentum is to know what’s next. By setting a clear focus for January before the term ends, you’ll start the new year on the front foot.
📌 Action:
Choose your first discussion question for next term now. You could link it to a theme like friendship, community, or new year goals so pupils come back ready to get involved.
Make pupil voice simple, structured, and sustainable
When pupil voice feels easy to run and celebrate, it’s far more likely to last. Keeping things light but consistent during busy times helps pupils stay engaged and reminds staff that this work supports - not adds to - a busy school year.
💡 Want to know how to make this work in your school?
We’re running free weekly webinars packed with practical tools, templates, and real examples from schools already building lasting, inclusive pupil voice structures.
