Four Ways Your School Council Can Lead Black History Month
Black History Month is an important opportunity to celebrate, reflect, and learn. But how do you make sure it’s not just a one-off event, and instead becomes something meaningful that involves the whole school community?
Your school council can play a leading role. Here are four simple, pupil-led ideas to help you mark Black History Month in a way that’s engaging, inclusive, and sustainable.
1. Run a Class Meeting on Black History Month
Use your school council to spark discussion across every class. A simple debate question - like “Why do we celebrate Black History Month?” or “What can our school do to recognise different cultures and histories?” - can get every pupil thinking and sharing ideas.
💡 Action: Let your Communications Team - a group of students who collect ideas and feedback from their classmates - gather responses and feed them back to leadership, so students can see their ideas shape real activities.
2. Organise a Pupil-Led Assembly
Empower your Communications Team or Action Teams to plan an assembly that highlights key figures, achievements, and stories from Black history. This could include presentations, drama, poetry, or even student-led quizzes.
💡 Action: Make it interactive - invite pupils from different year groups to take part so the message reaches the whole school.
3. Create a Black History Month Project Board
Just like our member schools use Progress Boards to track council projects, you can use one to showcase pupils’ ideas and achievements. This could feature research on local role models, artwork inspired by Black heritage, or quotes from pupils on why diversity matters.
💡 Action: Place the board somewhere central so it becomes a visible celebration throughout the month.
4. Connect to Wider School Life
Don’t let Black History Month sit in isolation. Your school council can link discussions and actions to other areas like PSHE, English, or history lessons. This shows that diversity and inclusion aren’t a “one-month topic” but a core part of your school’s ethos.
💡 Action: Encourage your council to suggest ongoing projects - like reviewing library book choices or planning a cultural celebration week later in the year.
💡 Want to make pupil voice work all year round?
Join our School Council CPD on 2nd October - a practical online session for busy schools.
Learn how to build a structured, inclusive school council that’s easy to run and empowers every student.
