Student Parliament

WHY DO WE HAVE A SCHOOL PARLIAMENT?

We began our journey of having a school parliament in September of 2018. This initiative was to give students a place to structurally debate and challenge ideas between our different parties, established through our team houses. Since then, we have been led collaboratively by Ms McCombe who has recently left us, and are now led by Mrs Visscher and the Sixth Form Senior leader for Student Voice. Our school parliament has been a place where students from all backgrounds can find a voice and the ability to take lead in both their future and their education.

How do we work democratically?

Our parliamentary body consists of two MPs from each Form class, ranging throughout Year 7 to our Sixth Form. Parties are formed based on our school House System and the roles of Secretaries are chosen within the party. Our school partakes in campaigning systems as well as writing manifestos, and concludes with a day of elections, where each individual will have the chance to vote for which party they want to lead. The leader of the winning party becomes our schools Prime Minister and can carry out the ideas put forward in their manifesto. Throughout the year we hold Prime Ministers’ questions where all MPs gather and are able to debate concerns, agendas, and actions regarding the work of the cabinet.

What have previous leading parties achieved?

During the last 7 years of parliament running (with exception of Covid-19) our students have been able to work alongside all members of staff to help translate their visions into action. Some of the accomplishments achieved include:

• Changes in uniform policy. Students being given the choice to wear trousers or a skirt, as well as headscarves.
• A change to the mobile phone policy - students are now able to bring their phone to school, under the agreement that it stays switched off in their bag for the whole day, in order to feel safer travelling to and from school.
• Adjustment to school policies - scrutinising existing policies in order to guard against institutionally racist policies on hair and behaviour.
• Termly reward trips for every year group in order to acknowledge the hard work and perseverance of the students.
• Changes in the dining hall and food served so that we are able to accommodate everyone in receiving hot healthy meals.

Our school parliament is constantly working to improve and progress as one and even the smallest of can ages make a difference and are recognised. Any student who commits their time and heart to the improvement of our school is heard and commended which contributes to the success of St Claudine's.

What we stand for and forever strive to be?

Our school parliament stands for justice and respect. We envision our school and a place of inclusivity in all areas such as gender, race, religion, sexuality and all ethnic backgrounds and learning abilities. We strive for our school to be a place that students are proud to be a part of and are constantly supported and encouraged to learn and succeed both in their education and socially. The confidence that students feel and emit within Parliament is the reason that we have been able to do what we love and want to do, which is to give students the knowledge that their voice can make a difference and that it should never be silenced.

We want to be an emblem of hope and solidarity for those who come from all backgrounds to know that within our school and Parliament we are all equal and that our different paths of past life shouldn’t hold us back.

Our Parliament has strived to be an anti-racist school of equality and even though this milestone hasn’t been entirely reached, we are working towards it as a priority.

We appeared on the BBC news in January of 2019:https://youtu.be/bxYPSywsjAE - YouTube video of St Claudine’s on BBC News: January 2019. See video below.

Student leadership team

Involvement in our Parliament can kickstart students inspired by politics and debate to develop and find their voice. Many of our students have been members of Parliament for many years due to their passion towards and commitment to making lasting change at St Claudine’s. Once they have reached Year 13, they have the chance to become a part of the Senior Student Leadership Team. This team replicates the staff Senior Leadership Team, with the students working alongside the SLT to develop new ideas and strategies. These Student SLT are our Big Sisters and are there to be a part of the progression of younger students and dedicate their school lives to the service of our community and making it a better place.