School CouncilThe School Council system at Mill Hill is a fully developed and important aspect of school life which ensures that pupils have a say in exactly what matters to them the most.
The opportunity for interaction between pupils, teachers and other adults through the various School Councils has a positive impact on relationships, attainment and discipline; high levels of pupil involvement and care help pupils feel better integrated and motivated at Mill Hill.
It is these essential underlying principles which provide the basis for the current School Council system and contribute to the unique sense of community within the Mill Hill School Foundation.
The primary aim of the Full School Council is to improve the quality of school life. The other councils support the Full School Council, and any changes or decisions that these councils wish to make are normally addressed through the Full School Council. House Focus Weeks, during which key issues are addressed through whole school assemblies, Chapels and in House, support the process.
The Full School Council is run by the pupils, together with the Deputy Head (Pastoral). The Council consists of ten House representatives (one from each house) along with representatives from the Anti-Bullying and Mentor Council (ABMC), boarders, day pupils and other groups in the school.
Elections for membership of the Full School Council take place early in the Autumn term of each academic year.
The Full School Council has had one of its most productive and influential years. The aim was to create a new, precise set of Foundations encapsulating exactly what it means to be a Millhillian. The Council came up with the idea of the Mill Hill Foundations being viewed as the ‘Pillars of Mill Hill’; each letter of the word PILLAR standing for a different quality i.e. Pride, Integrity, Learning, Leadership, Achieve and Respect. The idea was that these should be linked to the School Motto; Et Virtutem et Musas (both Virtue and Learning).
The Council also worked alongside Nick Priestnall, (Director, Foundation Appeal) with a view to securing funding for one or two ‘pupil generated projects’. One of the proposals this year included a request for the funding for an Inter-House Challenge Cup to be presented to the overall annual House winner.
The aim of the Council is to meet to discuss issues that have arisen relating to the general welfare of pupils within House as well as in and around the school. The Council specifically addresses strategies for tackling bullying and loneliness. Members of the ABMC play a significant role in inducting new pupils into the school. Additionally each House elects mentors to help new pupils settle in, to make friends and to integrate into the school community.
The ABMC have produced a series of photo story presentations dealing with different aspects of bullying. Click here to see them.
The Anti Bullying and Mentor Council focused on promoting the general welfare of pupils and came up with strategies for dealing with bullying and loneliness. They played a key role in inducting new pupils and helped develop a supportive environment in which all pupils are respected. Specifically, the ABMC played a leading role in conducting a detailed review of Induction and Mentoring, devised a map of the main School locations and organised a range of activities to be undertaken during National Anti-Bullying Week in November. These included assemblies delivered to every pupil in the School, a blue-themed non-uniform day and the sale of blue cakes and biscuits.
With the proceeds of this year’s initiatives, the ABMC have supported the charity ‘Stonewall’. This charity arranged for Lance Corporal James Wharton, to make a presentation on homophobia to lower school pupils in which they were able to ask a range of frank but thoughtful questions about the challenges he has faced and the support he has received from the Armed Services.
Six weeks after joining Mill Hill as our youngest pupils, each of the Fourth Form Tutor groups elects a representative to sit on the Fourth Form Council. This group meets two or three times each term to allow the views of our most junior pupils to have an individual voice and. In particular, seeks to identify and then solve commonly experienced problems or difficulties. It also provides the first opportunity for the ten Council members to take on a position of responsibility and leadership and, at the end of their first year, involve themselves in delivering a PSHRE lesson to their peers about how best to act as mentors to the following year's new Fourth Form entrants.
This year’s Fourth Form Council discussed a wide range of issues, the most important being their views on homework. This led to a whole School review of ‘prep’ by Mr Gaylor, Academic). Other areas discussed included the minutiae of lunch rotas, feedback on open mornings, weekly assemblies, a review of how we induct and mentor new pupils and the review of guest speakers’ presentations.
Three Food Councils have been set up to cater for the needs of all pupils: Day House Food Council, Boarders Food Council and Café 6 Food Council.
The Catering Team works closely with the School to achieve the best food offer and service possible for all members of the Mill Hill community. It also includes consideration of the dietary requirements of our sportsmen and women, provision of healthy tuck and recognition of the need for a pleasant environment in which to eat.
The ‘School Staff’ are the Monitors and the Prefects. The Monitors are the Heads of House, (ten pupils) and the Prefects (circa 30 pupils). There are also two Senior Monitors, one boy and one girl.
The key function of the School Staff is to demonstrate leadership qualities and to be role models for pupils throughout the School. As a joint body, the School Staff are the senior representatives of the School on formal occasions such as Foundation Day and Armistice Day. They also help the School to run smoothly on a day-to-day basis, for example by supervising pupils in and out of Chapel and Assembly, and in the lunch queue. They are also there to make sure that everyone is treated fairly and with respect. You will find them friendly and approachable.
The aim of this Sixth Form Council is to give senior pupils a voice on issues relating to life in the Sixth Form at Mill Hill. It also helps organise educational visits and trips. Another role of the society is to help integrate new Sixth Form pupils, both boarders and day, into the Mill Hill Community.
Click here to see an interactive panorama of the 6th Form Common Room.
The Sixth Form Council has worked with enormous commitment and enthusiasm to improve Sixth Form facilities, privileges and social activities. The most significant development has been the establishment and development of the Sixth Form Common Room. The Common Room project came as a direct outcome of discussions with pupils resulting in members of the Council putting together a ‘wish list’ of Common Room facilities and working with a design team to determine the room layout, decorations and furnishings. There have been a number of other areas where Sixth Form ideas have been implemented notably the improved support provided for Sixth Formers by the careers department and Old Millhillians Club in obtaining work experience; improvements in parking facilities; changes in car use privileges for boarders and new ideas for the Valedictory Service and leavers’ celebrations. Current ongoing discussions include the extension of Sixth Form privileges particularly in relation to private study arrangements.
The primary aim of the Boarders’ Council is to maintain, review and enhance the quality of life for boarders. The individual boarding House Councils, which involve regularly alternating groups of mixed race, age and gender, play a significant role in suggesting and discussing changes, frequently reporting ideas back to the Boarders’ Council through their Monitor or Boarders’ Council representatives, so that all Houses’ views and ideas are fairly represented. The Council generally meets 3 times per term, with additional meetings put in place where necessary. It is run by the pupils and chaired by the Boarding Monitor and the Director of Boarding. The Council consists of at least three representatives from each of the boarding Houses, including a monitor from each House, although extra representation from Houses is generally welcomed.
The Boarders’ Council was key in the introduction of some new activities this year, including a House paintballing trip to Broxbourne Woods and a Pamper Evening for the girls, complete with sweet treats. The Annual Boarders’ Concert was a great success once again, raising more than £700 for Micro-Finance. As ever, the Council showed its commitment to School initiatives, such as the Eco Society and devised and promoted a sculpture competition with artistic interpretations made of recyclable material. The Councils’ main project during Summer Term was the broadsheet for new Boarders. This will contain helpful tips and advice in order to help new boarders integrate quickly and effectively.
The Mill Hill School Motto emphasises the importance of developing a virtuous character and the spiritual aspect is integral to this aspiration. Chaired by the School Chaplain, the Spirituality Committee has student representatives from across the faith spectrum. It plays a central part in ensuring that the spirituality of all pupils, of ‘all faiths or none’, is developed.
The spiritual dimension of life transcends religious beliefs. It is concerned with the ‘inner life’ and the flourishing of each individual human spirit. Yet a natural expression of human spirituality is religious faith and practice, and a crucial part of the work of the committee is to ensure that religious difference is respected and celebrated in creative ways within the school community. Each term the committee organises and presents Interfaith Assemblies, engaging with moral and spiritual issues that are relevant to all students. The committee also engages a range of outside speakers to inform discussion and debate on important moral, religious and spiritual issues, thereby helping pupils to mature into fully grounded young adults.
