Dumfries and Galloway pupils could be given say in appointing new head teachers

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Pupils in Dumfries and Galloway schools could potentially have a say on the appointment of their next head teacher. Teens who make up pupil councils may even have influence over their school uniforms, meals and anti-bullying policies.

Everything is up for discussion as Dumfries and Galloway Council moves towards finalising its pupil council charter. An official charter is currently being created, which could bring more power to pupils from next year.

A new council education report states: “The work on this scheme of establishment for a pupil council charter is to ensure that we have consistency in our approaches to working with children and young people through our pupil council structure based on local and national frameworks for children’s and young people’s engagement. “The purpose of a pupil council charter is to define what should be considered when establishing their pupil council.

The charter should be written by the pupil council in partnership with the school.” A joint meeting of the region’s youth council and the local authority in February 2020 agreed that every school should have a pupil council – and that these should be treated with the same importance as parent councils.