Student Councils give students a voice and the opportunity to work in partnership with management and staff to improve their schools.
They are afforded freedom of expression and appropriate participation in policy-making under both the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and Ireland’s National Children’s Strategy.
Student councils are provided for in the Education Act, 1998 as a means of students being involved in the affairs of the school.
The advantages of having a student council are:
- To create a positive school atmosphere;
- To create a caring school environment, which is supportive and inclusive;
- To act as a vehicle for student participation;
- To have a beneficial impact on issues such as discipline, bullying and staff-student relations;
- To develop communication and leadership skills, responsibility and accountability;
- To be a valued resource to management, teachers and other students
A student council is a representative structure for students only, through which they can become involved in the affairs of the school, working in partnership with school management, staff and parents for the benefit of the school and its students
(Working Group on Student Councils in Second-Level Schools Definition)
St Laurence College has a Student Council Constitution which is required under the Education Act, 1998. It consists of democratically elected students, one per class group
Student Council representatives have a responsibility to be the voice of their class group in relation to student issues within St. Laurence College. Regular meetings are held and to date the council has been involved in various fundraising for the school and Marianist causes, consultation about uniform changes, been involved in the introduction of new school policies, contributing to newsletters, etc. Within the Council there are different roles; president, secretary, treasurer, and a PR team.
St. Laurence College Student Council 2010/2011
1st Year
Kaylee Cassidy
Leanne Greene
2nd Year
Hayley Kane
Lenaya Byrne
Joshua Aughney
Chauntell Finn
3rd Year
Glen Byrne
Daniel Meegan
4th Year
Molly Gray
Zanda Waite
5th Year
Stacey Finn
Chloe Murphy
Leah Duffy
Aisling Lauder
Thomas Kelly
6th Year
Laura Barry
Samantha Wall
7th Year
Graham Fox