The Student Council, formed from students in Years 7 to 11, attend weekly meetings to discuss academy life and the wider community. It is a really important way for students to have a say in how the Academy is run and decisions.
The Student Council has participated in a wide range of events such as the Sunderland Youth Parliament debate, has introduced a carbon reduction scheme into the Academy resulting in whole school recycling and an eco-friendly canteen.
The Council is also involved in the recruitment process for new staff, often being part of a ‘student panel’ posing questions to candidates at interview. The School Council has attended anti-bullying conferences and delivered assemblies to other students.
The students in the Student Council deeply value the skills they are developing and look forward to contributing further to Biddick Academy in the months to come. If you have an interest in joining the School Council. Please speak to your Form Tutor.
STUDENT COUNCIL UPDATES
Message from Student Council
We would like to update you on the contributions we make to school life. We aim to ensure that all our peers have the means to share and voice their views on issues that affect them and our school.
Each week, students have the opportunity to discuss issues in Registration time which we have been able to continue virtually throughout lockdown. It is then our role, as student leaders, to share the opinions and ideas discussed. We then feed these views back the following week, via daily notices and staff meetings, so that trustees, staff and students are all aware of student views.
We would like to thank everyone for their contributions and we look forward to discussing more ways to improve in 2021, including developing our Curriculum Philosophy and looking at ways in which we can support the transition of our new Year 7 students over the summer term ready for September.
Student Council Spring 2021 Update
School Council Bulletin – Spring 2021
Student Council March 2021 Update
School Council Meeting – March 2021
Student Council February 2021 Update
So far we have focused on ways in which we could further improve the Biddick Academy website, our expectations of equipment and our expectations and opinions of our uniform. Additionally, we have looked at what we feel the roles and responsibilities should be of Junior Ambassadors and Senior Prefects as we look to develop and grow student leadership. Our proudest contribution to the community from Biddick Academy has been the making of a Christmas hamper for our local care home, St George’s, which was promoted and delivered by us. The hamper contained a number of treats for the staff and residents, as well as in excess of 300 hand-made, personalised Christmas cards. This was a testament to all of our students, who contributed cards and donations all in aid of our ‘Biddick Cares’ project.
Student Council June 2022 Update
The academic year 2021-2022 saw the return of ‘normal’ school life at Biddick Academy and this has meant a busy year for the democratically-elected Student Council. With this in mind, we would like to update you on the contributions we have made to school life. We constantly aim to ensure that all students have the means to share and voice their views on issues that affect them, our school and our community. Each week, students have the opportunity to discuss issues in Registration with the support from their student representatives. It is then our role, as student leaders, to share the opinions and ideas discussed. We then feed these views back the following week via daily notices and Senior Leadership Team meetings so that trustees, staff and students are all aware of the views of students.
Collectively, the Student Council have devised and implemented initiatives focused on school improvements and reaching out to the wider community. In October 2021, we debated, discussed, voted upon and announced our new whole school charity for this academic year – Cancer Research UK. It was overwhelming to see students across the Academy vote for their preferred charity and inspire their peers to do the same. Throughout the year there have been numerous events taking place in order to raise money for our charity including Red Nose Day, bake sales and in school competitions. As well as this, we aim to host a ‘Summer Fair’ for staff and students, help run a Sports Day and support with ‘Biddick to Broadway’ in an attempt to reach our target of £2000.
In December 2021, as part of our ‘Biddick Cares’ campaign, we delivered Christmas cards and food hampers to St. George’s Care Home, in Harraton. We were overjoyed by the donations received and the residents loved reading the kind messages hand-written by our students.
As well as this, Georgia Towart, Biddick Academy’s Head Girl has worked closely with our student leaders to implement strategies which eliminate period poverty from our Academy. In response to this, it has been decided that we will install sanitary dispensers in cubicles for all females across the Academy to support our young females through this time and remove the stigma around periods.
Together, the Student Council has also taken part in a Make Your Mark campaign. This allowed us to work closely with the British Youth Council. Students were able to vote on which topic was discussed at the UK Youth Parliament in London on behalf of the young people in the North East. As a result of this, Amy Bell and Sam Ogle, two of our student leaders have proudly spent Wednesday evenings representing the Academy, attending meetings with the Sunderland Youth Council to make the North East a better place for our young people.
If you would like more information on how to run for the Student Council, please contact Miss Hopper directly on hopper.b@biddickacdemy.com. Alternatively, if you require any further advice or guidance on student leadership, please contact Mr Knowles directly on knowles.j@biddickacademy.com.