Member News
A new awards scheme that celebrates school projects has recognised the efforts of four schools from across the country.
John Bercow launched the new Speaker's School Council Awards earlier this year.
Twenty schools were shortlisted from a pool of more than 2,000 across the UK.
School councils nominated "their most effective, engaging and ambitious projects".
"The high standard of nominated projects made the shortlisting process especially difficult," according to the parliamentary education service.
The winning schools are:
Age 4-7
Henry Hinde Infant School
Project: Shared learning
The council helped transform homework assignments by introducing 'homework sacks' full of objects and artefacts. The project helped students transfer the creative approach to learning they were enjoying in school to their homework. It also encouraged greater shared learning with parents.
Age 7-11
Osbaldwick Primary School
Project: York school councils conference
Osbaldick's council organised a York-wide meeting of school councils to discuss projects, share ideas and find inspiration for improving life in schools. SSCA judges were impressed by project's scope and how professionally the conference was organised.
Age 11-16
Quintin Kynaston School
Project: Positive relationships with the local community
After the school received complaints from local residents about student behaviour, the council tackled the issue head on. Students invited members of the community to discuss ways of improving relations. One of the schemes included 'community week', a series of events promoting harmony and sharing.
Age 16-19
Maricourt Catholic High School
Project: Project Al Gore
The school council's scheme was to make the school more sustainable and environmentally friendly. To date it has inserted solar panels making the school's sports hall and art block carbon neutral. The council has also introduced new recycling areas and planted 30 trees on the school grounds.
Students from the four schools accepted their awards at a ceremony at the Palace of Westminster.
The Speaker was joined on the judging panel by Tom O'Leary, head of the parliament education service; citizenship specialist Sir Keith Ajegbo; Jordan Hill, 15, school council member at Pentrehafod School, Swansea and Dilan Guven, 14, member of the English secondary students association.
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