About Us. Eolas Fúinn.
What is a Student Council?
A Student Council is a representative structure for students only, through which they can become involved in the affairs of the school, working in partnership with school management, staff and parents for the benefit of the school and its students.
Usually the student council works with a teacher, who is the link person between students and staff and management in the school.
Many schools already have excellent student councils.
Does your school have the right to set up a Student Council?
The rules for setting up and running a Student Council
According to the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management of the school is responsible, for drawing up rules for the establishment of a Student Council. These rules must comply with the Department of Education and Science guidelines – Student Councils: A Voice for Students. The Board must give students a copy of the rules if students say they want to set up a Student Council.
After consulting with the Board, the Student Council can draw up a constitution, which is a set of rules about how it will run its meetings.
Section 27 of the Education Act, 1998
The work of the Student Council
A Student Council is a representative structure for all the students in the school. It provides students with the opportunity to become involved in the affairs of the school, working in partnership with school management, staff and parents. It should always work for the benefit of the school and its students.
The Student Council has responsibility for
Student Council activities
The Student Council can be involved in many activities in the school. Here are just a few things we've been involved in over the past few years:
A Student Council is a representative structure for students only, through which they can become involved in the affairs of the school, working in partnership with school management, staff and parents for the benefit of the school and its students.
Usually the student council works with a teacher, who is the link person between students and staff and management in the school.
Many schools already have excellent student councils.
Does your school have the right to set up a Student Council?
- Section 27 of the Education Act 1998 says that Boards of Management shall encourage and give all reasonable assistance to students in setting up and running of student councils in second level schools.
- The National Children's Strategy says that children and young people will have a voice in matters that affect their lives and be provided with opportunities to participate in decision-making.
- Both of these are Government policy.
The rules for setting up and running a Student Council
According to the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management of the school is responsible, for drawing up rules for the establishment of a Student Council. These rules must comply with the Department of Education and Science guidelines – Student Councils: A Voice for Students. The Board must give students a copy of the rules if students say they want to set up a Student Council.
After consulting with the Board, the Student Council can draw up a constitution, which is a set of rules about how it will run its meetings.
Section 27 of the Education Act, 1998
- A board shall establish and maintain procedures for the purposes of informing students in a school of the activities of the school.
- The procedures established and maintained under subsection (1) shall facilitate the involvement of the students in the operation of the school, having regard to the age and experience of the students, in association with their parents and teachers.
- Students of a post-primary school may establish a student council and, without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), a board of a post-primary school shall encourage the establishment by students of a student council and shall facilitate and give all reasonable assistance to -
(a) students who wish to establish a student council, and
(b) student councils when they have been established. - A student council shall promote the interests of the school and the involvement of students in the affairs of the school, in co-operation with the board, parents and teachers.
- The rules for the establishment of a students council shall be drawn up by the board, in accordance with such guidelines as may be issued by the Minister from time to time, and such rules may provide for the election of members and the dissolution of a student council.
- A student council, following consultation with the board, may make rules governing its meetings and the business and conduct of its affairs.
The work of the Student Council
A Student Council is a representative structure for all the students in the school. It provides students with the opportunity to become involved in the affairs of the school, working in partnership with school management, staff and parents. It should always work for the benefit of the school and its students.
The Student Council has responsibility for
- Working with the staff, Board of Management and Parents' Association in the school;
- Communicating and consulting with all of the students in the school;
- Involving as many students as possible in the activities of the Council;
- Planning and managing the Council's programme of activities for the year;
- Managing and accounting to the student council and Board of Management, for any funds raised by the Council.
Student Council activities
The Student Council can be involved in many activities in the school. Here are just a few things we've been involved in over the past few years:
- Improving toilets in the school
- Fundraiser for Trócaire
- Fundraiser for UNICEF & Typhoon Haiyan Appeal
- Blue September Awareness Campaign for Men's Cancer
- Positivity Days for Positive Mental Health
- Got Blinds up on our Study Hall
- Sent a letter to and met with An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny
- Anti-Bullying Policy
- Promotion of School Concert
- Chalk-it-up for Positive Mental Health
- Active part of school events, like the 5K and Parents Association Bag Packs
This information has been adapted from content of StudentCouncil.ie, a website supported by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs & the Department of Education and Skills.