Located in Blackburn, Great Marsden St John is a vibrant school that's been on the Smart School Councils programme for three years now, and it's part of the CIDARI MAT. Our Membership Manager, Karen O’Connor, visited the school last summer term and met Molly Thompson who's been doing a fantastic job leading the programme in the school.

How They Make Smart School Councils Work

At Great Marsden St John, they've got a unique take on the Comms Team. Instead of sticking to traditional roles, they switch it up each term, calling themselves the 'Student Council'. What's impressive is how they all work seamlessly together. Karen watched Molly in action, and she's a pro at asking the right questions during meetings, helping them choose the next discussion topic. It's like watching a masterclass in action!

When it comes to Action Teams, the students take the reins. They run these teams through a special club on Friday afternoons called the Golden Ticket Club. Recently, they whipped up bird feeders for the school's outdoor space, all voted on by the students themselves. Next up, they're painting pebbles to spruce up the reflection area, another idea that came straight from the students' discussions.

They hold Class Meetings twice a term, and they've even taken a leaf out of their partner school, St Silas's book, considering dropping it down to once a term to free up more time for taking action.

The Journey So Far

Lead Teacher Molly leads their Smart School Council with lots of excitement and energy. The programme's really thriving under her guidance, and it's clear that the students are loving every minute of it. We can’t wait to come back and see the continued success and growth of Smart School Council in Great Marsden St John's.

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