Cockton Hill Junior School

School Parliament

Article 12 (Respect for the views of the child) Every child has the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously. This right applies at all times, for example during immigration proceedings, housing decisions or the child’s day-to-day home life.

During Parliament Week, children prepared speeches with the aim of being elected as their class "MP" (Motivational Pupil). All children voted for their MP and those elected are now our School Parliament.

Our MPs (Motivational Pupils)

3C - Evaa

3H - Tommy

4C - Lyla

4H - Scarlett

5C - Jacob

5H - Blake

6C - Izzy

6H - Anna

Our role is to represent every class in the same way MPs represent every constituency in parliament. We are in charge of what the departments do.

Activities

Our MPs and Department for Community joined Tidy Ted at Locomotion in Shildon to help launch The Big Spring Clean 2025.

Children took the train to Shildon and heard all about S&DR200- celebrating the anniversary of the birth of the modern railway and the first journey on the Darlington and Stockton Railway in 1825. They then picked up litter picking equipment and joined portfolio holder for neighbourhoods and climate change, Cllr Mark Wilkes, for a clean up of the surrounding area. Vice chairman Patricia Jopling told the children how proud she was that they were taking a sense of pride in their environment and how we wouldn’t have such a beautiful county without them and other volunteers who give up time to take part in cleaning up events. The Big Spring Clean has been going for more than a decade and last year a whopping four thousand volunteer hours were given at 450 events across County Durham.

Departments

Children also applied to work within our departments in school. A recruitment and selection process took place and children were selected to form these different departments. Each department has a focus within school to improve life in our school and local community. Take a look at our departments and the things these groups have been doing.

Department for Education

Our Department for Education: Jensen, Naleli, Jimboy, Flynn, Harper, Heather, Alexis and Joe

Our role is to improve learning experiences for all children in school.

Activities

The team planned events for World Book Day. They chose that children come to school dressed as their favourite book character, in pyjamas or in non-uniform. They were very sensible in their decision to consider the costs for families and considered how all children like to do something a little different. They chose that they would all like to visit the local library on World Book Day and wanted each year group to focus on an author. They chose:

Y3 – Adam Bushnell

Y4 – SF Said

Y5 – Radiya Hafiza

Y6 – Christopher Edge

Department for Environment

Our Department for Environment: Danny, Evalynn, Isla, Charlotte, Leighton, Beau, Liam and Bella

Our role is to look at ways we can help to look after our environment.

Activities

Our Department for Environment met with Tori from OASES as part of the development of a Local Nature Recovery Strategy to protect wildlife within County Durham. They looked at animals and habitats that need protecting and explored the importance of woodlands. The children then came up with ideas of how we can improve our school grounds to protect wildlife. These included making bird feeders out of recycled materials, adding wildflower areas, creating hedgehog houses and planting more trees.

As an action from their last meeting, children made bird feeders to attract more wildlife into our school. They planned for all classes across school to take part in the RSPB's Big Schools' Birdwatch. They are hoping their creations will mean we spot a range of different birds!

Our Environment Team worked with Josh from OASES to learn all about climate change. They learnt about the impact of fossil fuels on the environment and how solar and wind power are being used as renewable energy. The group discussed how we can reduce our energy use in school through saving electricity. They also explored how wind power is generated by using fans! They will put their learning into action to make our school more environmentally friendly.

Department for OPAL

Our Department for OPAL: Callum, Hayden, Charlie, Elliott, Chloe, Malaki, Annabelle and Priya.

Our role is to improve playtimes for everyone.

Department for Rights Ambassadors

Our Department for Rights Ambassadors: Michael, Henry, Suzie, Michaela, Leo, Mia and Thomas

Our role is to make sure everyone's rights are respected.

Department for Community

Our Department for Community: Sylvie, Robbie, Noah, Adam, Alina, Lucy, Kaiden and Lucas

Our role is to make a difference in our local area.

Activities

Our MPs and Department for Community joined Tidy Ted at Locomotion in Shildon to help launch The Big Spring Clean 2025.

Children took the train to Shildon and heard all about S&DR200- celebrating the anniversary of the birth of the modern railway and the first journey on the Darlington and Stockton Railway in 1825. They then picked up litter picking equipment and joined portfolio holder for neighbourhoods and climate change, Cllr Mark Wilkes, for a clean up of the surrounding area. Vice chairman Patricia Jopling told the children how proud she was that they were taking a sense of pride in their environment and how we wouldn’t have such a beautiful county without them and other volunteers who give up time to take part in cleaning up events. The Big Spring Clean has been going for more than a decade and last year a whopping four thousand volunteer hours were given at 450 events across County Durham.

Department for Health and Safety

Our Department for Health and Safety: Arron, Hughie, Milo, Ethan, Mia, Evie-May, Cara and Abbie

Our role is to keep everyone safe in person and online.

Activities

The team met to discuss Children's Mental Health Week. They chose to display posters around school to raise awareness of mental health and hold class assemblies to discuss this. They decided each class would take part in a 'Personality Island' activity.