30/11/11

Minutes 30/11/11

Absent: Archie F

Recap. on last week:

• lockers in the new building - having one big locker for each boy, regardless of their age, considered a good idea. As term progresses, we will be asked more questions about subject.

This Week:

• Student Council Dinner - every year there is a dinner for the Student Council, and it has been moved to the end of next term, rather than the summer term, due to lack of attendance, again due to exams. After the Spring Play, Thursday is the preferred day.
• Compulsory sport 4th Formers i.e. rugby - is this unfair? It is being discussed whether it should be changed. From an admin point of view, one could offer a different games half. Some definitely don't want to play. All indoor facilities are already taken, so there aren't many other options e.g. hockey on the MUGA. Proposal: 4th formers can change after the first half of the Autumn term. Perhaps one could try and see whether the new boys are suitable for rugby. Many boys don't like it, although one meets lots of new people on the games half. A few weeks of it would certainly new boys decide whether they want to continue. After half term, there should be a public option to change.
• FOB key doors are said to not work on Saturdays (or at least some of them)e.g. door by the Geography department. There are a group of doors which lock after 7:00pm. The Front door of the school is often not open. There are security reasons for the timed lock, although it is arguable that they should be open on Saturday for sport, play / music rehearsals etc.
• Prefects system was brought up again, with regards to how they are elected. It has been noticed that those in Under Masters' tutor sets are often made Prefects, although this is always because they are Prefect-material, which is probably why they're in a UM tutor set. The bigger issue with selection is the apparent trend for there to be a lot of people who play rugby at a high level i.e. 1st. This is primarily because the players are known by many coaches, who have the vote, and so there are more votes for a rugby player than a person who does an activity  run by one teacher because more teachers know about them. The system does balance out, however - it is not a popularity contest, as the Prefect body is also consulted after elections to see if any grave injustice has taken place. One is left asking however, is it that big of a deal? The system works, and so we shall close the door on this.