It promotes the development of positive peer leadership and shifts the responsibility for good behaviour away from teachers and towards members of the classroom and school community. Research by Professor Lynn Davies at The University of Birmingham has shown that pupil councils provide an effective means of promoting a sense of ownership and therefore reducing exclusions in a school. Involving pupils in peaceful conflict resolution, e.g. peer mediation provides another means of shifting the responsibility for good behaviour towards the classroom and school community. Peer mediation enables pupils to support vulnerable classmates, so promoting an inclusive and caring community where all pupils feel valued and safe. Improving behaviour and developing positive relationships within the school impacts positively on the learning environment.
Pupils have great potential to make a positive contribution to the school and the wider community.
School councils help pupils to fulfil this potential, so promoting positive relations between the school and the wider community. Involving pupils in classroom and school councils gives all the children in a school the opportunity to develop important skills for life. For example communication skills, relationship skills, peaceful conflict resolution, teamwork, effective leadership, critical and moral reasoning, emotional literacy and assertiveness. Many of these skills are important in helping children develop resilience to negative experiences and improving their academic and non-academic achievements.