The student council has 8 ‘focus groups’ who all work on different projects. Each group has a leader, and a member of staff to assist. Read on for details of their projects.

Eco-schools
The group are researching ways to make the school carbon-neutral, for example, reducing food miles in school dinners. They are working closely with the IT department, and a system has been introduced which switches off idle computers to save energy and money. After gaining a bronze ‘eco-award’, the group is working towards a silver, and have secured funding for solar panels at the school. The group is also charged with recycling and hope to receive more bins in the future to increase the amount of waste which is recycled.

Student Voice
The student voice group are working on introducing credit card size key fobs for every student, featuring different contact information, such as taxi firms, train and bus information, local gyms and youth centres and other companies. Hopefully, these cards will be designed by students in a variety of designs and given out before the summer holidays in 2010.

Teaching and Learning
The teaching and learning group is working with Mrs Smelt (the school SEN coordinator) to make a handbook to give out to students who have a Special Educational Need. Currently, a hand book only exists for their parents. The booklet will be given out from September 2010.

George Taylor Fundraising Group
This group is made up of friends of an ex-student, and is committed to raising funds for the Leeds general hospital. So far, around £800 has been made from a number of events! As well as donating to the hospital, the group is also focusing on a celbration of George’s life, to be held in the summer term, to mark the opening of 2 memorial gardens on both school sites.

Project group- changing rooms
The group has listened to the students, and is focusing on a refurbishment project for the changing rooms at both starts, starting with Heads Lane. At the moment, the project is in the planning stages and the group is focusing on fundraising, with a sponsored walk forthe whole school planned for September. Now the groundwork has been set, hopefully this project can continue into the next school year.

Media and Publicity
The group is working to produce a film about the student council to be played on the plasma screens throughout the day and at open evenings etc. Hopefully, the film will raise awareness of the council among all students.

Youthwatch
The Youthwatch group is a partnership between the school, local police, and other local agencies. It works to help improve the image and perceptions of young people in the area. They are currently working with local councillors on ways to improve life in Hessle for young people and students of the school. They are also involved in helping to design and build a ’sensory garden’ at Penshurst Primary School.

There is also a Boothferry Road group focusing on issues which affect only our younger students of the school. Watch this space for news of their projects