Do you want to help make education even better for children and young people in care?

The Walsall Virtual School Council gives children and young people the chance to share their ideas, influence decisions and help shape the future of education for children in care across Walsall.

We believe that the people who know the most about what it's like to be in school are the children and young people themselves. That's why your voice is at the heart of everything we do.

The School Council works alongside the Virtual School team to improve educational experiences, influence new projects and make sure the views of children and young people are heard when important decisions are made.

Our School Council is made up of children and young people in the care of Walsall. We attend different schools, some are in Walsall and some of us attend a school outside of Walsall.

We meet every six weeks to discuss education, share ideas and work together on projects that will improve the support, opportunities and experiences available to children and young people in care.

Everyone has an important part to play and members can take on special roles, including:

• Chair – leads our meetings and makes sure everyone's voice is heard.
• Vice Chair – supports the Chair and helps lead discussions.
• Secretary – keeps a record of our meetings and the great ideas we come up with.
• Treasurer – helps us think about how funding can be used to improve education and opportunities for children and young people.
• School Councillors – work together to share ideas, represent other children and help make positive changes.

Our School Council doesn't just talk about ideas—we make things happen!

Here are just some of the ways we've already helped improve education:

• Reviewed the questions teachers ask before Personal Education Plan (PEP) meetings to make sure they are easier to understand and focus on what really matters to children and young people.

• Represented children and young people in care by speaking to professionals about why education is so important and what helps children succeed.

• Shared our ideas about how funding should be used to provide the best possible educational support and opportunities for children and young people.

• Recorded our thoughts and experiences of PEP meetings so teachers and other professionals could learn from our feedback and make meetings even better.

• Worked alongside the Virtual School to help design next year's enrichment programme, choosing exciting activities and experiences that children and young people will enjoy.

Every meeting gives us the chance to make a real difference, and our ideas help shape the work of the Virtual School.

Being a School Councillor is a fantastic opportunity to:

• Make a real difference to education.
• Help improve the support children and young people receive.
• Share your ideas and opinions.
• Meet other children and young people from across Walsall.
• Build confidence and leadership skills.
• Learn how decisions are made.
• Work as part of a team and make new friends.

There are no right or wrong answers—we simply want to hear your ideas. Whether you enjoy speaking in front of others or prefer sharing your thoughts in different ways, everyone has something valuable to contribute.

We are always looking for new members to join the Walsall Virtual School School Council.

If you want to help improve education, influence decisions and make a real difference for children and young people in care, we'd love to hear from you.

Speak to your parent, carer or social worker and ask them to get in touch with the Walsall Virtual School team to find out more about becoming a School Councillor.

Together, we can make education even better for every child and young person in care. 🌟