Five Steps to Build a Better School Council in 2025/2026
As the 2025/26 academic year begins, now is the perfect time to rethink your approach to pupil voice. Traditional school councils often involve just a handful of elected pupils - but this model can leave many students feeling left out, especially those who are quieter, less confident, or from disadvantaged backgrounds.
So how do you build a school council that’s inclusive, sustainable, and genuinely impactful?
Here are five practical steps to help your primary or secondary school strengthen pupil voice this year - while also supporting Ofsted priorities like personal development, British values, and inclusion.
1. Start with a clean slate
Before launching back into the same format, take a moment to review what worked (and what didn’t) last year. Was your school council truly representative of your pupil population? Did most pupils get to share their views - or just a vocal few?
✅ Action: Gather staff and pupil feedback, and be ready to try something new. Small changes now can lead to bigger impact later.
2. Make it inclusive from day one
Representation matters. If your school council only includes confident, high-attaining students, you’re missing out on diverse perspectives. Make space for every child to participate, not just through elections, but through regular class votes and discussions.
✅ Action: Introduce a school-wide class meeting tool where every class votes on the same weekly question. This ensures every pupil’s voice is heard regularly, not just once a term.
3. Connect it to the curriculum
Your school council shouldn’t sit in isolation. Done well, pupil voice can support key areas of the curriculum, especially personal development, SMSC, and British values.
✅ Action: Link school council activities to key inspection areas. For example, use debates to explore mutual respect, or student-led campaigns to promote individual liberty and responsibility.
4. Give pupils real leadership
If your student leaders aren’t making real decisions or driving change, they’ll switch off. Empower them with visible roles - from chairing meetings to presenting ideas to senior leaders or governors.
✅ Action: Set up a Communications Team, rotating roles so that more pupils have a chance to lead. Make their work visible to the school community through assemblies, newsletters, or display boards.
5. Track impact - and shout about it
If Ofsted visited next week, could you clearly show the difference your school council makes? Capture evidence of participation, action, and change, and use it to highlight pupil voice across the school.
✅ Action: Keep a simple log of weekly class votes, actions taken, and pupil reflections. Showcase this during staff briefings, governor meetings, or inspection preparation.
💡 Want to know how to get started?
Smart School Councils makes it simple with ready-made tools, ongoing support, and weekly debate questions that give every pupil a voice.
If your school is in the top 10% for pupil premium, you may be eligible for a subsidised membership this year.
