Carlisle Primary Schools Council

On Decision Making in Health

Primary Schools from across the Carlisle district have formed a partnership and are working alongside Carlisle City Council and Carlisle Partnership to put forward ideas, present and debate on key topics relevant locally.

The aim of the School Council session at Carlisle City Council is to:

• Involve young people in decision making within their area on key issues which can have an impact on the place in which they live.
• To increase education, raise awareness and empower young people on related topics and activities.
• To facilitate youth democracy
• To consider suggestions which could be practically developed or applied locally involving young people.
• To encourage young people to inform their parents on information important to them / local priorities.

One of the recent meetings was focused around the theme of health and asked the question “Carlisle is an official World Health Organisation ‘Healthy City’. What would you do to help make Carlisle healthier?” 

Each of the schools involved hold their own school council meetings across the school age range to discuss the question and then get together at the Primary School Council meeting (held in the Council Chamber). The sessions allow young people across Carlisle to present, deliberate and pose questions to other young people. Not only does it allow the pupils to research, develop their presentation and debate skills, but also provides insight into youth democracy and what it is like to be a councillor.

The young people present their ideas/findings to other schools, the Mayor of Carlisle, Carlisle City Council Executive representatives, Carlisle Youth Council representatives, A local member of Youth Parliament and the Carlisle Partnership Manager. The students enthusiastically engage in the meetings; creating posters, PowerPoint presentations and speeches, in response to the question.

Some of the ideas the pupils discussed included:

• Making fresh fruit available at schools and organisations receptions.
• A poster competition showing healthy messages, tips and facts around the health of local people living in Carlisle.
• Consideration of the development of outdoor gyms.
• Getting supermarkets involved with schools through events, lessons around health or food, education trips and free fruit.
• Making people more aware of what is in there food

The sessions are rich, energetic and inspiring. There has been some fantastic feedback from teachers and pupils involved in the meetings with many commenting on how great it is to get the future generation involved in such important decisions regarding health. Also how it has inspired the students, helped them gain confidence and allowed them to have an influential voice. The students learn new skills in delivering presentations and speeches confidently; with sessions also allowing them to interact with students from other schools and bounce ideas off each other. Whilst students can started off quietly and cautiously, by the end of a session student’s hands are in the air, all wanting to join in.

Feedback was positive and highlighted that the students gained confidence as the session went forward.

• “Thank you very much for a brilliant morning, the atmosphere has definitely inspired the children.” (Blackford CE Primary School)
• “It was a really good session with great enthusiasm from the school children. There ideas were fantastic! Count me in for the next session. Many thanks to you and Rosie for the organisation” (Carlisle City Council Councillor).
• “Absolutely agree it was a fantastic morning and I loved the way the children gained in confidence asking questions as the morning went on. Thank you.” (Head at Kingmoor Primary School)
• “A brilliant session from all involved, can we book the next one in already?”  (Head at Stanwix)

Other key outcomes achieved to date include:

• Increased political awareness and engagement
• The development and refinement of the student’s confidence and skills
• Involvement of student in the decision making process
• Awareness of democracy and interest from student into council processes and structures.
• Positive feedback
• Ideas and outcomes from the session being taken forward

A short video of the most recent Primary School Council was produced by Carlisle College students Dean Whitehead and Jodie Morgan, and gives a flavour of the meetings. Please click here to view the video.

For more information, please contact Emma Dixon, Carlisle Partnership Manager, on 01228 817370 or email Emma.Dixon@carlisle.gov.uk

Key partners:

• Carlisle Primary Schools
• Carlisle Primary School Council
• Member of Youth Parliament
• Carlisle City Council
• Carlisle Partnership

Various other dependent upon the meeting theme