Our School Council has been part of our school for over 15 years and is an integral part of seeking our pupils' voices and opinions.  It begins with a democratic process whereby a pupil from each class chooses to run for School Council.  Prospective councillors are expected to speak to the class about why they are the most suitable to represent the class and answer questions afterwards.  After each candidate has spoken, the class takes part in a private vote, nominating two children from their class.  The votes are then counted and the members are elected.

School councillors are expected to attend fortnightly meetings where they share the views of their class.  Within the School Council, the principal roles are also elected of Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary.  These form a two tier system and these members are expected to liaise with the headteacher and other members of staff.

The Eco Council's mission is to ensure that our school is an environmentally friendly place to learn. The Eco Council is led by children, who have responsibility for identifying environmental issues in and around the school grounds and for creating action plans to tackle these issues.

Cherry Orchard Primary School holds the Eco School Green Flag. We are very proud of this achievement and the hard work and commitment shown by children from across the school, in their efforts towards achieving it.

Members of Eco Council are elected through a democratic process. Every junior class elects a representative. Children who would like to be considered for the role have the opportunity to prepare a speech, explaining what they would bring to the role. Children in each class are then able to vote for their Eco Council member.

The Eco Council meet at least once every half term. However, meetings are often more frequent, especially when members are planning big events.

Examples of projects and events undertaken by the Eco Council include a fancy dress competition to raise funds for the WWF, weekly eco friendly classroom checks, poster competitions and sponsored litter picks.

The Young People’s Parliament (YPP) is an exciting opportunity for pupils to develop their leadership skills, build confidence and make a positive difference in their community. Through YPP, children can work with pupils from other schools, share their views on issues that matter to them, learn about how democracy and politics work, take part in inspiring trips, and meet influential people such as local MPs. As ambassadors for our school, YPP delegates help ensure that pupil voice is heard while developing important skills such as teamwork, communication, responsibility and respect.

At Cherry Orchard Primary School, we use the NHS-backed My Happy Mind programme to promote children’s mental health, wellbeing and personal development. Through this engaging programme, children learn how their brains work, build resilience and develop positive habits that support lifelong happiness and wellbeing. Regular My Happy Mind assemblies and activities help pupils to understand and manage their emotions, recognise their individual strengths and grow in confidence. By developing these important life skills, our children feel safe, valued and ready to learn, enabling them to thrive both personally and academically.

As part of our commitment to positive mental health, we have a team of Happiness Heroes. These pupils play an important role in supporting the wellbeing of others by helping to ensure their peers are happy and included during break and lunchtimes. They organise activities for children to enjoy, attend meetings to help plan My Happy Mind events and lead initiatives that promote positive mental health across the school. Happiness Heroes also look out for children demonstrating their character strengths and celebrate these positive behaviours, helping to create a kind, supportive and inclusive school community.