Minutes of the Council of Portsmouth Students (CoPS) meeting 10th January 2008

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Those present

Natalie Williams ALNS

Liv Abdul ALNSRicky Dagnell CPBSSam Ring CPBSJames Lawbuary CPBSJake Morey St Luke’sCoral Offin Milton CrossAtiya Sharmin CPGSDaniell Arnold – Chair CPGSLewis Faithful Mayfield Nial Ward MayfieldCharlie Emery Mayfield

Clare Hillman Priory

John Lihou Priory

Oliver John Priory

Amy Tucker Mary Rose

Michael Powell Mary Rose

Debbie Lower LSA Mary Rose

Louis Head Springfield

Natalie Stephenson Springfield

Rory Edwards Springfield

Lily O’Flynn St Edmund’s

Alex Effah St Edmund’s

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Introduction

Danielle welcomed everyone to the CoPS meeting.James Lawbuary ran a new ice breaker – The Empire GameMinutes from last meeting were checked by CoPS members and were fine.Matters arising from last meetings discussion re raising the profile of CoPS in Schools - ALNS said that they now have the PowerPoint minutes running on a screen in the library. It was also thought that CoPS could distribute posters & flyers for events such as SV day & Pupil Oscars to keep the SV and CoPS profile high in schools

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Building Schools For The Future (BSF)

Lewis Montieth (CPBS) came to talk to CoPS about the ‘Quad Squad’ at CPBS.

CoPS then broke into small groups to discuss BSF.

Points were then shared with the rest of the group and discussed.

Young people from across Portsmouth will be invited to contribute to the Building Schools for the future consultation. Carla Driscoll will be explaining the next steps during the next COPS meeting on the 5th March.

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Primary CoPS

CoPS were informed that a Primary CoPs has been started.

Suggested that some members of CoPs & Primary CoPS meet to share issues.

St.Edmunds have sent out invites to primary secondary schools in their catchments area. This a great idea but some secondary schools do not have designated cluster primary schools (CoPGS and CoPBS).

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Sex & Relationships Education (SRE) review update

Sylvia Kopecek (a former senior adviser in Portsmouth) has been visiting schools and carrying out a review of Sex and Relationships Education in Schools. Unintended teenage pregnancy and rates of sexually transmitted infections are high in Portsmouth compared with other parts of the country.Sylvia has run consultation sessions on SRE in secondary schools.She began by telling CoPS about herself & her job.She answered questions about SRE, with feedback from CoPS.

She discussed issues with CoPS members.Sylvia will make the findings of her review available to young people in Portsmouth through CoPS and would be grateful if schools could discuss the findings through school councils and to discuss the implications for the PSHE programme in each school.

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CYPPMichael told CoPS about the Children & Young Peoples Plan review meeting which he attended on the 3rd December.The gave the basic outline of the meeting – in short CoPS has been invited to have a say in reviewing and further developing the Children and Young People’s plan for the City. An important milestone in enabling young people from Portsmouth a real say in matters that effect them. More in depth information can be got from David or Michael.

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Team Building

Ideas were taken for the next CoPS team building day.Ideas included;Moors valley country park Bowling evening Sailing CoPS OlympicsLaser questMega maze

All ideas and contact information about these sites to be passed to The CoPBS who will research costs, availability and whether the activities were inclusive for wheel chair access and for students with special needs

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An important offer to schools.A repeat of last meetings request from the

Leader of Portsmouth City Council

Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson asked the CoPS members to discuss a few issues in their student councils and schools. These were;

What makes us(as young people) feel safe and unsafe? And how could it be improved?Opinion on youth services and how they could be improved.Views on Southsea sea front.Opinions on environment and how it could be improved?

Councillor Vernon-Jackson explained that these are real issues for the council and he would be happy to come in to talk with school councils about them and would welcome feedback from school councils so that the student voice can inform the Council’s decisions on these matters.

Councillor Vernon-Jackson invited school councils to contact him on: geraldvj@gmail.com and cllr.geraldvj@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

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AOB

Questions asked by Gerald Vernon Jackson at last meeting to be raised by CoPS members in schools as an opportunity for real involvement in citizenship.

Answers those questions should be emailed to David Hart or directly to Councillor Vernon Jackson when retrieved from school councils.

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Agenda for CoPS Meeting

The agenda for the next meeting will be set by the Executive Group on Wednesday 13th February 2008 at the Dame Judith Professional Centre between 3:45pm and 5:45pm.

If School Councils have items they would like to share and discuss with CoPS please contact David Hart on 023 9284 1713 or by e-mail: david.hart@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

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Next CoPS MeetingDate: 5th March 2008

Time: 9am (9:30start) –12:30pm

Venue:Portsmouth Student Union Function Room

If any secondary school student has a point they would like to raise with CoPS about improving schools and learning please talk to your form, year or school council rep and they will take it from there through your school council to CoPS and back to you.