On Wednesday 5th February the Vale Youth Service staff organised the first joint School Council network meeting for secondary schools in the Council Chamber.

Its aim was to provide school council members from across the Vale of Glamorgan to share best practice amongst each other as well as an opportunity to learn more about what the local authority is working on.

Our first meeting was welcomed by Cllr Lis Burnett, Cabinet Member of Education who gave pupils an update on the budget for education as well as an update on 21st Century Schools. School Council members from Pencoedtre High School and Stanwell School were also in attendance. Pupils compiled a terms of reference for future meetings. They shared some of the great work they’ve done around reducing single use plastic as well as caring for their school environment. Pupils also got an opportunity to put their views forward about Draft Vale of Glamorgan Anti-Bullying Guidance policy.

It was a great meeting and it is hoped that they will be held on a termly basis as well as giving the opportunity to those schools that were unable to make it this time to make the next meeting in the summer term.