In short, the Student Parliament is responsible for the adequate representation of the views of the entire student body at WGS. It is an open forum, designed not only to resolve grievances but also to connect the year groups and unite the school. That said, it maintains its roots, being the main discussion area for students to bring up their ideas and concerns with a view to pursue both.

An idea pioneered by Dr. Trafford in 1991, the Student Council – as it was known – went through many iterations and fulfilled a variety of roles. Indeed, the apparently amorphous job of the Student Council drew fire from many quarters – it was too insular, it was accused, and too concerned with its own workings to be viable. Many felt that it was only a symbolic presence, devoid of any real power, only to then be fiercely rebutted by those who insisted on a say in how the school was run.

The need for reform became clear in early 2007, in the face of falling attendances and rising student apathy. The Council appeared to be falling victim to what was in 1992 called the “make-it-up-as-we-go-along” culture. To us, the system seemed to be killing itself off. Fundamentally it lacked direction, and it courted scant affection from the students. The conclusion seemed to be a two-pronged solution – to repair the interior mechanisms while doing all we could to improve our image.

Student Council may have changed its name, but the re-launch has changed so much more than that. The first rumblings of a constitution were being heard years ago, but a definitive document fulfilling such a function has now been produced. For an organisation which was supposedly obsessed with its own workings, it has now been given a codified purpose. The number of reps has been increased drastically in order to make for a more representative body, while committees have been elevated to greater prominence. An Executive has been formed to create an agenda for each Parliament meeting, increasing efficiency.

It is impossible to fully explain how the system has changed in such a short space, and this website is an invaluable tool for getting that message across. We will use this area to post news, updates and blogs, and will also post articles which explain and go through how the old Council has evolved.

By no means will the Parliament stand still, however. I’ll finish with something which was said by a Council committee in 1996 and served as a constant inspiration during recent months:

"There is no doubt that this organisation has the potential to mature into something quite special. We still need to learn from our mistakes, and work on both the practical organisation and "culture" of the Council, in order to produce a system that is more focussed and efficient. We have reached the point at which we either progress or stagnate as a tremendous idea that was never given a chance to flourish."

Thanks for reading, and have a look around!
Dave Jackson - Secretary