Student trustees

Want to know more about being a student trustee? This handbook is aimed at student trustees and outlines some of the key points they need to know.

Student Trustees Handbook (left click link to view, or right click to download and save)

Student Elections

Boards of state and state integrated schools with students above Year 9 must hold an annual student trustee election in September each year (unless an approved alternative constitution under s105A of the Education Act 1989 provides otherwise).  Details of process are here.

Eligibility:  Any student enrolled full time in Year 9 and above, under the age of 20, is eligible to stand for election and vote in the school election for a student representative.  Student trustees have equal standing, voice, accountabilities and vote as other board members, but they can’t be the board chairperson (neither can the principal nor staff trustee).  They’re not just there to be seen and not heard.

Ensuring the students at your school have the opportunity to know what it’s all about before they stand and vote is important. If they want to know more about the board of trustees system, or what a trustee does, they should know where to access information, and where to go to place their nomination and their vote.

It is then up to students to make sure they use their democratic right to vote for someone they think would do the job well.

Let students know that their vote counts - if they don’t vote, they will miss an opportunity to have a say in the governance of their school.